Steamed hay and alfalfa pellets for the management of severe equine asthma.

Background: Steaming hay significantly reduces respirable particles and provides a palatable alternative to dry hay for horses with asthma, but there are few prospective studies demonstrating the clinical efficacy of steamed hay.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of alfalfa pellets and steamed hay in improving lung function and inflammation of horses with severe asthma (SEA).

Study Design: Controlled crossover study.

Retroperitoneoscopy in the horse: Anatomical study of the retroperitoneal perirenal space and description of a surgical approach.

Background: Surgical approaches to the kidneys and perirenal structures are uncommonly performed in horses and several complications have been described with the current procedures.

Objective: To describe the anatomy of the retroperitoneal perirenal space and investigate a retroperitoneal minimally invasive approach to access the kidney and perirenal structures in horses.

Study Design: Descriptive, cadaveric study.