Clinical

Figure 7. Low-volume lavage catheter and fluids.

Uterine diagnostics: what is the best sample?

Mares with uterine disease most commonly present as cases of poor fertility, including failure to conceive, pregnancy loss or abortion. Mares with a history of uterine fluid accumulation, abnormal or...

Nutritional management of equine gastric ulcers

Equine gastric ulcers are reported in all ages and breeds of horse. The incidence of equine squamous gastric disease in researched cohorts is reported to be between 11–92% (Murray et al, 1989;...

Figure 4. An overweight donkey with a condition score of 4.

Weight management and feeding requirements for geriatric donkeys

Healthy geriatric donkeys mostly require a basic diet of good quality barley, oat or wheat straw, and limited access to grass. Donkeyspecific vitamin and mineral requirements have not been...

Approach to clinical nutrition

Overall, when forming a nutrition plan, the following key areas need to be considered. In addition, when advising on animals which may be competing under specific regulations, it is essential that the...

Figure 1. a) The mane of a pony that has suffered from chronic insect bite hypersensitivity. Note the shortening of the hairs and the dull brittle nature of the hair ends. b) The tail of the same pony. The hairs are almost absent here, giving the pony a ‘rat-tail’ appearance.

Approaching the future management of sweet itch

Although many different approaches for treatment of insect bite hypersensitivity have been described, the most effective method is the avoidance of Culicoides allergens. Avoidance or reduced allergen...

Figure 2. A foal showing the classic signs of strangles as a result of enlargement of abscesses in the lymph nodes, which are obstructing the airway.

Unsaddling Streptococcus equi infection of horses

Horses become infected with S. equi via the nose or mouth, most likely through ingestion of contaminated food or water (Figure 1) (Boyle et al, 2018). The bacteria attaches to and invades the mucosal...

Breeding with frozen semen: what are the considerations?

There have been concerns that frozen semen is associated with increased problems, such as accumulation of uterine fluid and persistent-breeding induced endometritis (PBIE). However, from the research...

Figure 1. Geriatric donkeys should receive a dental examination every 6 months.

Caring for the geriatric donkey with dental disease

Some specific dental diseases occur more commonly in geriatric donkeys. In a study involving dental examinations of 357 donkeys, Du Toit et al (2009) found a high prevalence of diastemata, with 76% in...

The developmental behaviour of foals and its relevance to husbandry. Part 1: the first 3 months

Crowell-Davies (1986a) identified three developmental stages: the dependent period from birth to 3–4 weeks, the socialisation period from 2–3 months and the stabilisation period from 4 months...

Indications for and how to perform Caslick's operation in the mare

In general, a Caslick's operation is indicated when malconformation or inadequate closure of the vulva is present, for example as a result of trauma, weight loss, or congenital deviation from the...

Figure 4. A foal with a head tilt following head trauma. A subpalpebral lavage system is present in the left upper eyelid for management of a corneal ulcer.

Neurological disease in neonatal foals: beyond dummy foal syndrome

A variety of metabolic derangements can result in neurological dysfunction, which can be reversed by correcting the imbalance in many cases. It should be noted that, since these abnormalities...

Figure 1. Important factors to consider when assessing the dust exposure to a horse's breathing zone within a stable environment.

Equine asthma syndrome: managing the environment

As stated previously, environmental organic dust exposure, predominantly from the stable environment and from sources of feed, is a major inciting cause of the immunological response associated with...