How to perform a transtracheal aspirate in horses for diagnosis of lower respiratory tract disease.

Objective: To describe indications for and demonstrate the technique to perform a transtracheal aspirate in horses. Transtracheal aspirate is indicated to collect samples for cytology and bacteriologic culture in cases of suspected pneumonia or other lower respiratory tract disease.

Animals: 1 healthy university-owned horse was used for demonstration purposes.

Decreased Circulating Red Cell Mass Induced by Intravenous Acepromazine Administration Alters Viscoelastic and Traditional Plasma Coagulation Testing Results in Healthy Horses.

Coagulopathy is common in equine critical illness, with its early recognition being crucial for patient management and prognosis. In vitro viscoelastic (VE) hypercoagulability with decreased RCM/PCV has been demonstrated in dogs but not horses. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of acepromazine-induced (0.

Stability of Gastric Fluid and Fecal Microbial Populations in Healthy Horses under Pasture and Stable Conditions.

Equine gastrointestinal microbial communities vary across the gastrointestinal tract and in response to diet or disease. Understanding the composition and stability of gastric fluid microbiota in healthy horses is a prerequisite to understanding changes associated with the development of disease. The objective of this study was to describe microbial communities in the gastric fluid and feces of healthy horses longitudinally.

Comparison of Citrated Whole Blood to Native Whole Blood for Coagulation Testing Using the Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor (VCM Vet™) in Horses.

Viscoelastic monitoring of horse coagulation is increasing due to its advantages over traditional coagulation testing. The use of a point-of-care viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM Vet™) has been validated for use in horses using native whole blood (NWB) but has not been assessed using citrated whole blood (CWB), a technique that might have advantages in practicality and precision. Blood was collected from 70 horses, tested in duplicate immediately using NWB (T0), and stored at room temperature as CWB for testing in duplicate at 1 (T1) and 4 (T4) hours after venipuncture for comparison to NWB.

Unusual Equine Tumors.

There are a number of unusual tumors in the horse. Gross tumor characteristics, anatomical location, and signalment may assist with identification. Clinical pathology is often unrewarding with non-specific findings, while fine needle aspirates may not obtain sufficient tissue material to confirm a diagnosis.

Increased packed cell volume alters point of care viscoelastic clotting parameters in horses.

Background: Polycythaemia and coagulopathy are identified risk factors for non-survival in critically ill horses. Assessment of coagulation is recommended for critical care monitoring but may be affected by concurrent polycythaemia.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of induced polycythaemia on coagulation parameters as measured by a point-of-care viscoelastic coagulation device (VCM Vet™).

Equine Gastrointestinal Neoplasia.

Gastrointestinal neoplasia is uncommon in horses. Clinical signs can be vague and advanced testing, including biopsy, exploratory surgery, and/or advanced imaging may be required for diagnosis. Prognosis varies by location, organ involved and is frequently poor to grave.

Systematic evaluation supports the use of ELISA for quantification of calprotectin in equine feces, a first step toward noninvasive quantification of intestinal inflammation in horses.

Objective: To optimize and evaluate methods for the detection of the inflammatory biomarkers myeloperoxidase (MPO) and calprotectin (CP) in equine feces by ELISA.

Animals: Healthy horses (n = 28) and horses with intestinal inflammation (n = 10).

Methods: Feces were suspended in buffer to create fecal supernatant.

Microbial populations vary between the upper and lower respiratory tract, but not within biogeographic regions of the lung of healthy horses.

Understanding normal microbial populations within areas of the respiratory tract is essential, as variable regional conditions create different niches for microbial flora, and proliferation of commensal microbes likely contributes to clinical respiratory disease. The objective was to describe microbial population variability between respiratory tract locations in healthy horses. Samples were collected from four healthy adult horses by nasopharyngeal lavage (NPL), transtracheal aspirate (TTA), and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of six distinct regions within the lung.

Comparison of plasma l-lactate between jugular and cephalic veins in healthy and systemically ill horses using a point-of-care device.

Objective: To compare plasma l-lactate (LAC) values between samples collected from jugular and cephalic venipuncture in healthy horses and systemically ill horses.

Design: Prospective, experimental study.

Setting: Large animal university teaching hospital.

Preliminary evaluation of reference intervals for a point-of-care viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM Vet) in healthy adult horses.

Objective: To evaluate a point-of-care viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM Vet) for use in horses by assessing variability between devices and establish reference intervals (RIs) for healthy adult horses.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Two university teaching hospitals.

Prolonged holding time and sampling protocol affects viscoelastic coagulation parameters as measured by the VCM-Vet™ using fresh equine native whole blood.

Objectives: Determine the effect of sample holding time and single sample reuse on viscoelastic coagulation parameters when using fresh equine native whole blood.

Animals: 8 healthy adult horses from a university teaching herd.

Procedures: Blood collected by direct jugular venipuncture (18 ga needle, 3 mL syringe) was held at 37 °C for 2, 4, 6, or 8 minutes according to 1 of 2 protocols.

Effect of Firocoxib and Flunixin Meglumine on Large Colon Mural Thickness of Healthy Horses.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration carries risks of gastrointestinal toxicity. Selective COX-2 inhibitors ("coxibs") were designed to reduce risks of adverse effects but are still associated with gastrointestinal complications in humans. The effect of coxibs on colonic inflammation and integrity in horses is unknown.

Short-term administration of flunixin meglumine or firocoxib does not alter viscoelastic coagulation profiles in healthy horses.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the cyclooxygenase-2-selective NSAID firocoxib, compared to the nonselective NSAID flunixin meglumine on viscoelastic coagulation parameters in healthy horses.

Animals: 12 healthy adult mixed-breed horses.

Procedures: Following a crossover protocol, horses were administered flunixin meglumine (1.

Effect of omeprazole and sucralfate on gastrointestinal injury in a fasting/NSAID model.

Background: Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a common and significant cause of morbidity in horses, with a range of clinical signs, including inappetence, colic and poor performance. Hospitalised horses are exposed to factors that may induce EGUS, including fasting and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration, and may be at risk for development of squamous (ESGD) and glandular gastric disease (EGGD). Prophylactic anti-ulcer medication is often prescribed for these patients, but drug selection is complicated by different aetiology and response to treatment of ESGD and EGGD.

Modeling Challenge Data to Quantify Endogenous Lactate Production.

With the intention of isolating the susceptibility of modeling methodology to influence our investigation of the infusion data, we used three kinetic approaches to our models: a simple approach, a unit approach, and a novel approach. The simple approach used exclusively built-in modeling features of the software in terms of units of the infusion dilution (mmol/L), as well as in terms of the precision of switching the infusion on and off. The unit approach used the same switching mechanism as the simple approach, but the units were modeled in those of the infusion (e.

Repeatability and accuracy of fingertip pulse oximeters for measurement of hemoglobin oxygen saturation in arterial blood and pulse rate in anesthetized dogs breathing 100% oxygen.

Objective: To evaluate the repeatability and accuracy of fingertip pulse oximeters (FPO) for measurement of hemoglobin oxygen saturation in arterial blood and pulse rate (PR) in anesthetized dogs breathing 100% O.

Animals: 29 healthy client-owned anesthetized dogs undergoing various surgical procedures.

Procedures: In randomized order, each of 7 FPOs or a reference pulse oximeter (PO) was applied to the tongue of each intubated anesthetized dog breathing 100% O.

Normal regression of the internal umbilical remnant structures in Standardbred foals.

Background: Diseases affecting the internal umbilical remnant are common in foals. Ultrasound is used to diagnose abnormalities of these structures, and to monitor treatment. However, little is known about the progression of normal internal umbilical remnant regression.

Congenital phimosis causing preputial swelling in a newborn foal.

An 18-hour-old colt was presented for abdominal discomfort, preputial swelling, and frequent posturing to urinate. Examination of the scrotum confirmed 2 testes and no scrotal or inguinal hernia. Transabdominal ultrasound identified a distended bladder and no free fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

Prognostic Indicators for Survival and Athletic Outcome in Critically Ill Neonatal Foals.

Equine neonatal intensive care units have expanded knowledge and understanding of the normal and abnormal physiology of the equine neonate, resulting in successful treatment of critically ill equine neonates. The overall survival rate has increased tremendously since the early 1980s, from a little more than 50% to 80% or more for most facilities. The severely septic foal and the very premature foal still remain large treatment challenges, but less severely septic foals and foals challenged by adverse peripartum events such as dystocia and placentitis are surviving to hospital discharge and performing to the owners' expectation in larger numbers.

Defining the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Equine Neonates.

Defining and describing the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis facilitated recognition and investigation of the complex disease processes involving the host response to infection and trauma. Over the years a variety of definitions of SIRS have been examined and applied to numerous research studies to improve critical care in both human and veterinary clinical practice. This article summarizes the history of the development of the SIRS definition, outlines the pathophysiologic processes that are involved in SIRS, and provides a specific definition for use in foal medicine.

The area under the curve of L-lactate in neonatal foals from birth to 14 days of age.

Background: Prior studies have shown the prognostic utility of measuring L-lactate in critically ill neonatal foals, both as single (at admission) and serial measurements. Greater prognostic sensitivity and specificity may be achieved by use of the area under the L-lactate versus time curve (LACArea ) over the first 24 hours of hospitalization, which captures both severity and duration of hyperlactatemia. Prior to application of this concept in sick equine neonates, a reference interval for LACArea should be determined.

Update on interstitial pneumonia.

Interstitial pneumonias encompass a wide variety of acute and chronic respiratory diseases and include the specific diseases equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis and acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress. These diseases have been diagnosed in all age groups of horses, and numerous agents have been identified as potential causes of interstitial pneumonia. Despite the varied causes, interstitial pneumonia is uniformly recognized by the severity of respiratory disease and often poor clinical outcome.

Evaluation of contact activation of citrated equine whole blood during storage and effects of contact activation on results of recalcification-initiated thromboelastometry.

Objective: To evaluate the degree of activation of the contact pathway in citrated equine whole blood over holding times ≤ 30 minutes and assess effects of contact activation on recalcification-initiated thromboelastometry.

Animals: 11 healthy adult mixed-breed horses.

Procedures: Blood was collected by atraumatic jugular venipuncture into prewarmed evacuated siliconized glass tubes containing citrate anticoagulant and held at 37°C for ≤ 30 minutes.