Owner perceptions and experiences with equine necropsy.

In recent years, the number of horses submitted for necropsy has been in decline. This study aimed to identify the perceptions and barriers of equine necropsy through an online survey of horse owners. The data were analyzed by multivariate models for associations and factors that influenced decision making regarding necropsy.

3 Dimensional photonic scans for measuring body volume and muscle mass in the standing horse.

Reasons For Performing Study: Although muscle mass strongly influences performance, there is currently no effective means to measure the 3-dimensional muscle mass of horses. We evaluated a 3-dimensional (3D) scanning methodology for its ability to quantify torso and hindquarter volumes as a proxy for regional muscle mass in horses.

Objectives: Determine the repeatability of 3D scanning volume (V) measurements and their correlation to body weight, estimated body volume and muscle/fat ultrasound (US) depth.

Response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in a horse with hyperthyroidism associated with a functional thyroid adenoma.

A 16-year-old American Paint Horse gelding was presented for evaluation of weight loss and high serum thyroid hormone concentrations resulting from a functional thyroid adenoma. The horse showed no response to a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test. Clinical signs resolved following surgical removal of the adenoma.

Impact of alpha-tocopherol deficiency and supplementation on sacrocaudalis and gluteal muscle fiber histopathology and morphology in horses.

Background: A subset of horses deficient in alpha-tocopherol (α-TP) develop muscle atrophy and vitamin E-responsive myopathy (VEM) characterized by mitochondrial alterations in the sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis muscle (SC).

Objectives: To quantify muscle histopathologic abnormalities in subclinical α-TP deficient horses before and after α-TP supplementation and compare with retrospective (r)VEM cases.

Animals: Prospective study; 16 healthy α-TP-deficient Quarter Horses.

Effects of training at a walk on conventional and underwater treadmills on fiber properties and metabolic responses of superficial digital flexor and gluteal muscles to high-speed exercise in horses.

Objective: To compare effects of training on conventional and underwater treadmills on fiber properties and metabolic responses of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) and gluteal muscles to high-speed exercise in horses.

Sample: 6 unconditioned Quarter Horse-type horses.

Procedures: 6 horses were walked on underwater and conventional treadmills for 5 d/wk (maximum, 40 min/d) for 8 weeks in a randomized crossover design (60-day detraining period).