The Immediate Effect of Routine Hoof Trimming and Shoeing on Horses' Gait.

Evaluation of the effect of changes in the horses' feet after routine trimming and shoeing on gait at the trot is needed improve routine foot care. Evaluate changes in foot conformation and gait after routine farriery. Correlate alterations in a horse's gait before and after routine hoof trimming and shoe application. Fifteen horses received routine hoof trimming and horseshoe application. Dorsal and lateral photographs of the right and left front feet and inertial gait analysis at the trot were completed before and after trimming and shoeing. Measurements were made of hoof photos using a calibrated system. Gait and hoof measurements before and after farrier intervention were compared. Hoof measurement changes in relation to gait changes before and after farrier intervention were analyzed for significant associations. Mean medial to lateral coronary band length (P = .02), lateral (P = .01) and medial (P = .03) coronary band height, dorsal hoof wall length (P = .0004), heel length (P = .0002), heel overhang length (P < .0001), palmar coronary band height (P = .01), and hoof angle (P = .03) in each foot were significantly different pre- and post- farrier intervention. There was no statistical difference in the total head and pelvis movement before and after farrier intervention. The difference in the pooled mean of heel length before and after intervention was correlated with difference in maximum head movement (P = .03.) Pooled mean differences for dorsal hoof wall length (P = .04), heel length and heel overhang length (P = .006) before and after trimming were correlated with differences in maximum pelvis movement. Pooled mean differences for heel length (P = .005) and hoof angle (P = .04) before and after trimming were correlated with difference in minimum pelvis movement. Change in hoof conformation due to routine hoof trimming and shoeing does not change the gait in non-lame horses; however, some hoof characteristics measurements are correlated with immediate change in stride parameters. Use of hoof measurements may assist farriers and veterinarians in applying routine hoof care. Further studies could help determine what hoof conformation changes may be helpful to treat lame horses.

Incidence of incisional complications after exploratory celiotomy in equids affected with enterolithiasis.

This study reports the prevalence of and risk factors for incisional complications in equids after ventral midline celiotomy for enterolithiasis. This study covered the years 2008 to 2015 and included 72 equids. Enteroliths were removed from the ascending or descending colon through 1 or more enterotomies. Complications were defined as surgical site infection and/or incisional hernia formation. Follow-up by telephone questionnaire or medical records determined that 10/72 (13.9%) equids experienced complications, with 6/72 (8.3%) developing a surgical site infection and 5/72 (6.9%) a hernia. Seven of ten were presented for chronic abdominal discomfort (> 24 hours), and 8/10 had right dorsal colon and pelvic flexure enterotomies. All equids that developed an incisional hernia and 4 with surgical site infection had enteroliths > 15 cm diameter removed from the right dorsal colon. Antimicrobial powder applied to the ventral midline incision during closure significantly reduced incisional complications. Removal of > 15 cm diameter enteroliths from the right dorsal colon may predispose to postoperative incisional complications.

Incidence des complications incisionnelles après une céliotomie exploratoire chez des équidés atteints d'entérolithiase. Cette étude rapporte la prévalence et les facteurs de risque des complications incisionnelles chez les équidés opérés pour l'entérolithiase en utilisant une celiotomie médiane ventrale de 2008 à 2015. Soixantedouze équidés ont été inclus. Les entérolithes ont été retirés du côlon ascendant ou descendant par ≥ 1 entérotomies. Les complications étaient définies comme une infection du site opératoire et/ou la formation d'une hernie incisionnelle. Le suivi a été obtenu par questionnaire téléphonique ou par dossiers médicaux. Dix des 72 (13,9 %) des équidés ont eu des complications, dont 6/72 (8,3 %) ont développé une infection du site opératoire et 5/72 (6,9 %) une hernie. Sept sur 10 ont été présentés pour un malaise abdominal chronique (> 24 heures) et 8/10 avaient des entérotomies du côlon dorsal droit et de la flexion pelvienne. Tous les équidés ayant développé une hernie incisionnelle et quatre avec une infection du site opératoire avaient des entérolithes > 15 cm de diamètre prélevés du côlon dorsal droit. La poudre antimicrobienne appliquée sur l'incision médiane ventrale lors de la fermeture réduisait significativement les complications incisionnelles. Le retrait d'entolithes de > 15 cm de diamètre du côlon dorsal droit peut prédisposer aux complications incisionnelles postopératoires.(Traduit par les auteurs).

A preliminary study of silver sodium zirconium phosphate polyurethane foam wound dressing on wounds of the distal aspect of the forelimb in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if application of silver sodium zirconium phosphate polyurethane semi-occlusive foam (SPF) dressing would improve measures of wound healing and decrease bacterial contamination compared with a non-adherent, absorbent dressing applied to wounds created on the distal aspect of the equine limb. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled randomized experimental study. ANIMALS: Adult Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred horses (n = 5). METHODS: One 6.25 cm(2) wound was created on the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal metacarpus on each forelimb. A SPF dressing was applied to 1 randomly assigned limb as a treatment and a non-adherent, absorbent dressing was applied to the opposite limb as control. Bandages were changed every 3 days for 60 days. Granulation tissue was scored every 3 days, wound area measured every 6 days, and wound bed was cultured every 12 days. RESULTS: SPF-treatment wounds had significantly decreased wound area and decreased granulation tissue scores when evaluated <30 days and over the 60 day study, although complete wound healing times were not significantly different. Bacteria were cultured from all wounds at varying times throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: The SPF wound dressing improved some measures of wound healing compared with the control dressing, most significantly during the first 30 days. This suggests that the SPF wound dressing may be useful in the early management of wounds on the equine lower limb. Further studies using the SPF dressing are needed to characterize the temporal and cellular effects on wound healing and evaluate this dressing in a clinical environment.

Use of digital abdominal radiography for the diagnosis of enterolithiasis in equids: 238 cases (2008-2011).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of direct digital abdominal radiography for the diagnosis of enterolithiasis in equids and to assess the effect of the number and anatomic location of enteroliths and gas distention of the gastrointestinal tract on diagnostic sensitivity of the technique. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SAMPLE POPULATION: 238 horses and ponies ≥ 1 year old that underwent digital abdominal radiography with subsequent exploratory celiotomy or postmortem examination. PROCEDURES: For each case, 3 reviewers independently evaluated radiographic views. Radiographic images were evaluated for presence or absence and location of enteroliths and the degree of gas distention. Signalment, definitive diagnosis based on exploratory celiotomy or postmortem examination findings, and number and anatomic location of enteroliths were obtained from the medical records. RESULTS: 70 of the 238 (29.4%) equids had confirmed enterolithiasis. With regard to diagnosis of enterolithiasis via digital radiography, overall sensitivity and specificity for the 3 reviewers were 84% and 96%, respectively. Sensitivity was lower for small colon enteroliths (61.5%) than for large colon enteroliths (88.9%) and was negatively affected by gas distention of the gastrointestinal tract. Sensitivity was not affected by the number of enteroliths. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sensitivity and specificity of digital radiography for the diagnosis of large colon enterolithiasis in equids was high. Sensitivity of digital radiography for detection of small colon enteroliths was lower than that for large colon enteroliths, but was higher than that typically associated with computed radiography. In geographic regions in which enterolithiasis in equids is endemic, digital abdominal radiography could be used as a diagnostic test for equids with colic.

Use of physiologic and arterial blood gas variables to predict short-term survival in horses with large colon volvulus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if preoperative physical examination and blood work values, intraoperative physiologic variables, and intraoperative treatments can be correlated with survival to anesthetic recovery and short-term survival to hospital discharge in horses that undergo exploratory celiotomy for large colon volvulus (LCV) with and without colon resection. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Horses (n = 156) undergoing exploratory celiotomy for correction of LCV ≥ 360(ο) . METHODS: Medical records (January 2000-December 2009) of horses that had surgical correction of LCV ≥ 360(ο) were reviewed. Data collection included signalment, preoperative physical examination variables and hematologic values as well as intraoperative physiologic variables, intraoperative treatments, and arterial blood gas values. Risk factors for survival to anesthetic recovery and hospital discharge were determined using exact logistic regression. RESULTS: High preoperative heart rate and packed cell volume were associated with not surviving to anesthetic recovery or hospital discharge. A low intraoperative total serum protein concentration was associated with not surviving to anesthetic recovery or to hospital discharge. Intraoperative tachycardia and hypercapnia were associated with not surviving to hospital discharge. Intraoperative hypotension was a negative predictor of survival to anesthetic recovery. There was no increase in death for horses in which a resection and anastomosis was performed compared with those having manual correction. CONCLUSIONS: Several hematologic and cardiorespiratory variables that are easily measured preoperatively and intraoperatively show good correlation with postanesthetic survival in horses undergoing surgical correction of LCV. These measurements might be useful for prognosticating survival in horses admitted for correction of LCV ≥ 360(ο) .