Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Respiratory Distress in the Adult and Foal
Respiratory distress in the horse and foal is an emergency. Managing equine respiratory distress in the field starts with appropriate assessment of the patient to determine whether the breathing obstruction stems from the upper or lower respiratory tract or is nonrespiratory in origin. From a thorough, but efficient, physical examination to point-of-care ultrasound and endoscopy, the veterinarian has many tools in the field to help diagnose the patient. (Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice)
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - June 9, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Ashley G. Boyle Source Type: research

Ophthalmic Emergencies in the Field
Ophthalmic problems account for up to 20% of emergencies in equine practice. Presenting problems may involve the periocular region, adnexa, or globe. Practitioners must have the experience to restrain horses with painful ocular conditions and the knowledge of how to perform a thorough eye examination. A range of clinical skills is required for the necessary diagnostic tests such as corneal cytology, ultrasound and tonometry, and common standing surgical procedures such as eyelid repair or instillation of a subpalpebral lavage system. Therapy, which may involve frequent administration of multiple medications, must be target...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - June 9, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Ann E. Dwyer Source Type: research

Castration Complications
Castration is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in equine practice. Open, closed, and semiclosed techniques are described for castration of horses, and the procedure may be performed in a standing, sedated animal or in a recumbent animal under general anesthesia. Although a relatively routine procedure, complications can occur, with reported complication rates ranging from 10.2% to 60%. Most complications are mild and resolve rapidly with appropriate treatment, but more serious or life-threatening complications can also occur. A thorough knowledge of male reproductive anatomy and physiology combined with...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - June 8, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Isabelle Kilcoyne, Sharon J. Spier Source Type: research

Fracture Stabilization and Management in the Field
Management of fractures in the field starts with successful assessment and stabilization of the patient by the practitioner on the front lines. A careful examination is vital to succesful patient management. This includes identifying the fracture location and severity, evaluating skin integrity and potential contamination of the fracture, and treating any ongoing hemorrhage, hypovolemia or stress. Appropriate application of splints in the field will minimize ongoing tissue damage and improve patient comfort. This ultimately aids further assessment, facilitates referral, and improves opportunities for successful fracture re...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - June 8, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Jessica M. Morgan, Larry D. Galuppo Source Type: research

Approach to Toxicologic Emergencies
Equine toxicologic emergencies are relatively uncommon but can cause significant morbidity and mortality in a group of comanaged horses. The field veterinarian's role is to triage the situation, as well as the individual animal. Individual patient stabilization should focus on support of essential organ functions, providing time for treatments to have an effect or for elimination of the toxicant. Decontamination procedures can follow patient stabilization, if appropriate. Antidotes are often not available or feasible for equine intoxications. The field veterinarian should emphasize triage and stabilization before referral ...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - June 8, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Julie E. Dechant Source Type: research

Advances in Equine Ambulatory Medicine and Surgery
Major advancements have been made in recent years that have increased the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of the ambulatory practitioner. Point-of-care ultrasound and digital radiology are now widely available in addition to stall-side blood analyzers, which allow a more efficient diagnosis to expedite treatment in the field, or referral, resulting in better outcomes and survival. (Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice)
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - June 8, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Isabelle Kilcoyne Tags: Preface Source Type: research

What Would Be Good for All Veterinarians to Know About Equine Nutrition
This article outlines key factors with respect to the equine digestive tract and discusses relevant aspects of ration formation. Forage is highlighted, because inappropriate forage provision is one of the key limitations in many horse diets. (Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice)
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Patricia Harris, Megan Shepherd Source Type: research

How to Perform a Nutritional Assessment in a First-Line/General Practice
Inappropriate nutrition is a priority welfare challenge. Nutritional mistakes are common and can lead to adverse events, such as poor growth and performance, colic, laminitis, and obesity. A detailed nutritional assessment involving evaluating the equine patient, current diet/ration, and management is essential in creating an effective nutritional plan. Goal(s) should be established and used to inform the plan. Management or resource barriers should be considered. Effective communication and a team-based approach versus an authoritarian one are likely to enhance the success of the nutritional plan. Developing a plan should...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Myriam Hesta, Megan Shepherd Source Type: research

Nutritional and Non-nutritional Aspects of Forage
Many forage types are available, typically divided into cool or warm season grasses and legumes, which can be fed as fresh pasture or after preservation. Testing for nutrient content confirms what should be supplemented to make up shortfalls. Although testing is recommended, it is not always practical. Typical values for the forage type are available; however, they cannot be relied on for actual content. Non-nutritional aspects must also be taken into account. The provision of complementary feeds to ensure adequate vitamin and mineral intake is recommended. Additional supplementary high-quality protein may be required to m...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Nerida Richards, Brian D. Nielsen, Carrie J. Finno Source Type: research

Nutritional Considerations when Dealing with an Underweight Adult or Senior Horse
Weight loss occurs when the supply of energy is insufficient to meet the energy needs of an individual. The energy supply may be reduced by inadequate provision of feed, inadequate consumption, reduced digestion and absorption, or disruption in metabolic processing. Increased energy expenditure occurs with exercise and during cold temperatures, pregnancy, and lactation. Underlying clinical disease, particularly chronic inflammation, neoplasia, and protein-losing conditions, can cause weight loss or exacerbate existing weight loss. A methodical approach to weight-loss investigation and treatment is necessary, because of the...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Nicola Jarvis, Harold C. McKenzie Source Type: research

Nutritional Considerations When Dealing with an Obese Adult Equine
Equine obesity is common, reducing quality of life and requiring dietary energy restriction. Equine obesity is identified using subjective body condition scoring. Considerations are given for life stage and health status when managing obese equines. Every effort should be made to maximize feeding duration, and minimize time spent without feed while meeting all essential nutrient requirements. Limiting total daily dry matter intake to 2% of current bodyweight per day of a low caloric, forage-based diet may result in adequate body weight loss. Weight loss and weight management plans should be monitored for success and potent...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Megan Shepherd, Patricia Harris, Krishona L. Martinson Source Type: research

Nutritional Influences on Skeletal Muscle and Muscular Disease
Skeletal muscle comprises 40% to 55% of mature body weight in horses, and its mass is determined largely by rates of muscle protein synthesis. In order to support exercise, appropriate energy sources are essential: glucose can support both anaerobic and aerobic exercise, whereas fat can only be metabolized aerobically. Following exercise, ingestion of nonfiber carbohydrates and protein can aid muscle growth and recovery. Muscle glycogen replenishment is slow in horses, regardless of dietary interventions. Several heritable muscle disorders, including type 1 and 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy and recurrent exertional rha...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Kristine L. Urschel, Erica C. McKenzie Source Type: research

Staying on the Right Side of the Regulatory Authorities
This article provides reviews of the following: principal regulatory frameworks governing the supply of feed products for horses, focusing on the United States and Europe with guidance on compliance; key federal, state, or country requirements to ensure safe and accurately labeled products; rules concerning antidoping with a review of naturally occurring prohibited substances commonly found in feedstuffs; essential information for brand holders of equine nutrition products, practicing veterinarians, independent nutritionists, research scientists, competition riders and racehorse trainers, and those responsible for the dire...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Ruth Bishop, David A. Dzanis Source Type: research

How Can Nutrition Help with Gastrointestinal Tract –Based Issues?
Many horses are fed differently than their wild ancestors. They often have limited access to pasture and are fed conserved forage and concentrates rich in starch and sugars, in only 2 meals per day. Feeding practices in contrast to natural feeding behavior can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Standard nutritional evaluation is warranted because of its important role in prevention and in treatment and management of diseases. When medical and nutritional treatments are combined, success rates are higher. New techniques to characterize equine microbiota have been used, allowing for microbiota manipulation to prevent and treat...
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Myriam Hesta, Marcio Costa Source Type: research

Nutrition of Broodmares
This article reviews pregnant mares ’ current nutritional recommendations. Secondly, fetoplacental developmental stages during gestation are outlined, defining critical periods in the context of the developmental origins of health and disease. Last, examples of how maternal nutrition affects long-term foal health are presented. (Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice)
Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice - April 1, 2021 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Morgane Robles, Carolyn Hammer, Burt Staniar, Pascale Chavatte-Palmer Source Type: research