Peritoneal bile acids concentration in adult horses with hepatic and gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Peritoneal bile acids concentration (PBAC) has not been previously reported in horses. A case of liver lobe torsion in which increased PBAC was detected prompted us to study PBAC in horses.

Objectives: (a) To determine a reference range of PBAC in horses; (b) to compare PBAC from horses with either hepatic or gastrointestinal disease and healthy horses and (c) to assess the prognostic and diagnostic values of PBAC.

Plasma iron concentrations and systemic inflammatory response syndrome in neonatal foals.

Background: Sparse information regarding plasma iron concentration in neonatal foals and its utility as an inflammatory marker in this population has been published.

Objectives: To determine the physiologic plasma iron concentration in neonatal foals. To assess its utility as an inflammatory marker to predict systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and as a prognostic marker.

Prognostic value of measuring heart rate variability at the time of hospital admission in horses with colic.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of measuring heart rate variability (HRV) in horses with colic at the time of admission to a referral hospital.

Animals: 51 horses > 1 year of age with colic (41 that survived [survivors] and 10 that died or were euthanized [nonsurvivors]).

Procedures: HRV was recorded within 1 hour after admission by use of heart rate sensors with horses restrained in stocks.

Investigation of ventricular pre-excitation electrocardiographic pattern in two horses: clinical presentation and potential causes.

Two horses referred to the Unitat Equina, Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, for unrelated clinical problems, and with no previous history of cardiac disease exhibited an intermittent ventricular pre-excitation electrocardiographic pattern during hospitalization. Both animals showed decreased plasma total and ionized magnesium concentrations, but no other relevant electrolyte disturbances were detected. Altered interventricular septal motion associated with ventricular pre-excitation beats (VPBs) was detected on M-mode echocardiography in both horses.

Myelographic and low-field magnetic resonance imaging findings in dogs with presumptive acute hydrated non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion.

MRI is considered gold standard for the diagnosis of presumptive acute hydrated non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusions (AHNCNPE). This retrospective study describes the myelographic findings in dogs with AHNCNPE diagnosed by low-field MRI and their association with neurological grade, need of surgical decompression and outcome. Forty-two myelographies (21 dogs with presumptive AHNCNPE, 21 dogs with Hansen type I disc disease herniation) were blindly evaluated.