The influence of hay steaming on clinical signs and airway immune response in severe asthmatic horses.

Background: Avoidance of antigenic stimuli was found to significantly reverse airway obstruction of horses with severe equine asthma (sEA). To date, no published study investigated the influence of steaming hay on lower airway condition of sEA-affected horses. The objectives were to determine the clinical, cytological and cytokine respiratory responses of both sEA and control (CTL) horses experimentally exposed to steamed or dry hay.

Surgical removal of a gastric trichophytobezoar in a foal.

This report describes a rare case of gastric impaction caused by a trichophytobezoar in a foal. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing this condition and reports surgical removal via a gastrotomy after failure of medical treatment.

Ligation of the ipsilateral common carotid artery and topical treatment for the prevention of epistaxis from guttural pouch mycosis in horses.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of ligation of the ipsilateral common carotid artery (CCA) combined with various antimycotic treatments for the prevention of epistaxis in horses with guttural pouch mycosis. For each case, ipsilateral ligation of the CCA was performed, followed by application of various topical medications under endoscopic guidance. Frequency and number of treatments, outcome and recurrence of haemorrhage were retrospectively recorded.

Ultrasound-guided atlanto-occipital puncture for cerebrospinal fluid analysis on the standing horse.

The atlanto-occipital site (AO) is convenient for retrieving an adequate volume and quality of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the diagnosis of neurological disease in horses. However, general anaesthesia is not always possible for horses displaying severe neurological signs, or for economical reasons. The objectives of the present work were to determine the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided CSF puncture at the AO site on the standing horse.

Influence of detomidine and xylazine on spleen dimensions and on splenic response to epinephrine infusion in healthy adult horses.

Objective: To compare the changes in splenic length and thickness and in packed cell volume (PCV) following detomidine or xylazine administration and subsequent epinephrine infusion.

Hypothesis: Spleen relaxation occurs following xylazine or detomidine administration and interferes with subsequent splenic contractile response to epinephrine.

Study Design: Randomized non-blinded crossover experimental study.