Equine veterinary journal
-
Equine veterinary journal · Sep 2015
Expression of oxytocin receptors is greatly reduced in the placenta of heavy mares with retained fetal membranes due to secondary uterine atony.
Fetal membrane retention can be a life-threatening condition and its incidence exceeds 50% in heavy draught mares. Although fetal membrane retention is commonly treated with repeated injections of oxytocin, based on the suggestion that it is caused mainly by secondary atony of the uterus, this treatment sometimes fails. This led us to ask if expression of oxytocin receptors differs in mares that retain fetal membranes due to secondary uterine atony. ⋯ Inadequate expression of oxytocin receptors may be a cause of uterine atony leading to fetal membrane retention.
-
Equine veterinary journal · Jul 2015
Racing performance in Standardbred trotting horses with proximal palmar/plantar first phalangeal fragments relative to the timing of surgery.
Proximal palmar/plantar osteochondral fragmentation of the first phalanx is a frequent radiographic finding in Standardbred horses. These lesions are routinely removed prior to the onset of a racing career with no evidence to support the timing of this surgical intervention. ⋯ There was no significant difference in race speed between horses that raced before surgery and those that did not. Horses did not slow down prior to surgery. Horses with 3 affected legs ran slower than those with only a single or 2 affected limbs. There was no association between timing of surgery and race speed or career longevity. The potential benefits of surgical intervention should be critically examined.
-
Equine veterinary journal · Nov 2014
Evaluation and clinical use of an intraoral inferior alveolar nerve block in the horse.
Local anaesthesia is often required to facilitate invasive procedures in equine dental patients under standing sedation. ⋯ The inferior alveolar nerve was successfully desensitised with the intraoral approach with minimal complications. The reduced volume of local anaesthetic and ability to deposit the local anaesthetic in close proximity to the nerve compared with an extraoral technique may decrease the complication of self-inflicted lingual trauma.
-
Equine veterinary journal · Nov 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialCoagulation, oncotic and haemodilutional effects of a third-generation hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4) solution in horses.
Clinical indications for hydroxyethyl starches (HES) in horses include rapid plasma volume expansion and oncotic support during periods of hypoproteinaemia. Side effects such as coagulopathies associated with HES administration pose limitations to their use in veterinary medicine. In man, tetrastarch (130/0.4) has demonstrated less profound effects on coagulation compared with first- and second-generation HES. ⋯ Although still within established reference ranges, compared with lower dosages, the administration of 40 ml/kg bwt tetrastarch (130/0.4) is more likely to induce changes in coagulation as measured by TEG. Tetrastarch increased COP at all dosages evaluated in healthy horses. Tetrastarch (130/0.4) at 10 and 20 ml/kg bwt has potential as a synthetic colloid for resuscitation and provision of oncotic support in horses.
-
Equine veterinary journal · May 2014
A new technique for subtotal (cranial wedge) ostectomy in the treatment of impinging/overriding spinous processes: description of technique and outcome of 25 cases.
Surgical management for overriding spinous processes of the thoracolumbar vertebrae (SPs) is often favoured when conservative therapies have failed, pathology is severe, or in competition horses constrained by drug withdrawal periods. ⋯ In contrast to previously described amputation techniques, subtotal (cranial wedge) ostectomy removes only impinging portions of SPs. General anaesthesia and lateral recumbency facilitate access and enable a short surgery time. The procedure maintains the contour of the back and has fewer complications, but produces functional outcomes similar to more invasive procedures.