Prevalence of radiographic findings in candidate sires (2001-2008)

Radiographic screening of horses prior to purchase or admission to studbooks has become an important tool for evaluating the osteo-articular status of the animals. Developmental orthopedic disorders (DOD) are the main cause of potential lameness in youngsters. The genetic factor associated with DOD has been established, and specific selection schemes have been developed to diminish the prevalence of lesions. Increasing knowledge of prevalence in different breeds may help in developing specific breeding strategies. This article presents the results of the radiographic screening of 676 stallions presented for sire admission to the Royal Belgian Sports Horse Society (Studbook sBs). On average, two radiographic findings were noted per horse. The prevalence of DOD in this population was 38.9%. A high percentage of horses showed radiographic signs of effusion of the distal interphalangeal joint. An uncommon fragment location at the proximal tubercle of the talus was found in 7 horses. The present paper presents a review and discussion of all the radiographic findings

Metabolism during anaesthesia and recovery in colic and healthy horses: a microdialysis study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Muscle metabolism in horses has been studied mainly by analysis of substances in blood or plasma and muscle biopsy specimens. By using microdialysis, real-time monitoring of the metabolic events in local tissue with a minimum of trauma is possible. There is limited information about muscle metabolism in the early recovery period after anaesthesia in horses and especially in the colic horse. The aims were to evaluate the microdialysis technique as a complement to plasma analysis and to study the concentration changes in lactate, pyruvate, glucose, glycerol, and urea during anaesthesia and in the recovery period in colic horses undergoing abdominal surgery and in healthy horses not subjected to surgery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten healthy university-owned horses given anaesthesia alone and ten client-owned colic horses subjected to emergency abdominal surgery were anaesthetised for a mean (range) of 230 min (193–273) and 208 min (145–300) respectively. Venous blood samples were taken before anaesthesia. Venous blood sampling and microdialysis in the gluteal muscle were performed during anaesthesia and until 24 h after anaesthesia. Temporal changes and differences between groups were analysed with an ANOVA for repeated measures followed by Tukey Post Hoc test or Planned Comparisons.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lactate, glucose and urea, in both dialysate and plasma, were higher in the colic horses than in the healthy horses for several hours after recovery to standing. In the colic horses, lactate, glucose, and urea in dialysate, and lactate in plasma increased during the attempts to stand. The lactate-to-pyruvate ratio was initially high in sampled colic horses but decreased over time. In the colic horses, dialysate glycerol concentrations varied considerably whereas in the healthy horses, dialysate glycerol was elevated during anaesthesia but decreased after standing. In both groups, lactate concentration was higher in dialysate than in plasma. The correspondence between dialysate and plasma concentrations of glucose, urea and glycerol varied.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Microdialysis proved to be suitable in the clinical setting for monitoring of the metabolic events during anaesthesia and recovery. It was possible with this technique to show greater muscle metabolic alterations in the colic horses compared to the healthy horses in response to regaining the standing position.</p

Metabolism before, during and after anaesthesia in colic and healthy horses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many colic horses are compromised due to the disease state and from hours of starvation and sometimes long trailer rides. This could influence their muscle energy reserves and affect the horses' ability to recover. The principal aim was to follow metabolic parameter before, during, and up to 7 days after anaesthesia in healthy horses and in horses undergoing abdominal surgery due to colic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>20 healthy horses given anaesthesia alone and 20 colic horses subjected to emergency abdominal surgery were anaesthetised for a mean of 228 minutes and 183 minutes respectively. Blood for analysis of haematology, electrolytes, cortisol, creatine kinase (CK), free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, glucose and lactate was sampled before, during, and up to 7 days after anaesthesia. Arterial and venous blood gases were obtained before, during and up to 8 hours after recovery. Gluteal muscle biopsy specimens for biochemical analysis of muscle metabolites were obtained at start and end of anaesthesia and 1 h and 1 day after recovery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plasma cortisol, FFA, glycerol, glucose, lactate and CK were elevated and serum phosphate and potassium were lower in colic horses before anaesthesia. Muscle adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was low in several colic horses. Anaesthesia and surgery resulted in a decrease in plasma FFA and glycerol in colic horses whereas levels increased in healthy horses. During anaesthesia muscle and plasma lactate and plasma phosphate increased in both groups. In the colic horses plasma lactate increased further after recovery. Plasma FFA and glycerol increased 8 h after standing in the colic horses. In both groups, plasma concentrations of CK increased and serum phosphate decreased post-anaesthesia. On Day 7 most parameters were not different between groups. Colic horses lost on average 8% of their initial weight. Eleven colic horses completed the study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Colic horses entered anaesthesia with altered metabolism and in a negative oxygen balance. Muscle oxygenation was insufficient during anaesthesia in both groups, although to a lesser extent in the healthy horses. The post-anaesthetic period was associated with increased lipolysis and weight loss in the colic horses, indicating a negative energy balance during the first week post-operatively.</p

L'étude des contraintes mécaniques locomotrices chez le cheval

In locomotor biomechanics, three high groups of contraints are commonly encountared: pressure, traction and torsion. In supramaximal conditions, all of these contraints would be responsible of some equine diseased locomotor systems. In order to understand better the contraints in the equine locomotor dynamics, some investigations have been carried out. Moreover, some measurement methods, based on the mechanics of Newton, have been performed. This review shows the different measurement techniques and introduces the mechanical basis that are compulsory for the understanding of the equine locomotor apparatus functioning. [French] En biomécanique locomotrice, trois grands groupes de contraintes sont couramment rencontrées: les contraintes en pression, les contraintes en traction et les contraintes en torsion. En condition supra-maximale, elles favoriseraient l’apparition de lésions musculo-squelettiques chez le cheval. Dans le but de mieux comprendre les contraintes engagées dans la dynamique locomotrice équine, des champs d’investigations ont été menés et des méthodes de mesures, basées sur les grands fondements de la mécanique newtonienne, ont été développées. Cette revue fait état des différentes techniques de mesures en biomécanique musculo-squelettique chez le cheval, et introduit les bases mécaniques indispensables à la compréhension du fonctionnement de l’appareil locomoteur chez le cheval

L'étude des contraintes mécaniques locomotrices chez le cheval

In locomotor biomechanics, three high groups of contraints are commonly encountared: pressure, traction and torsion. In supramaximal conditions, all of these contraints would be responsible of some equine diseased locomotor systems. In order to understand better the contraints in the equine locomotor dynamics, some investigations have been carried out. Moreover, some measurement methods, based on the mechanics of Newton, have been performed. This review shows the different measurement techniques and introduces the mechanical basis that are compulsory for the understanding of the equine locomotor apparatus functioning.\ud \ud [French] En biomécanique locomotrice, trois grands groupes de contraintes sont couramment rencontrées: les contraintes en pression, les contraintes en traction et les contraintes en torsion. En condition supra-maximale, elles favoriseraient l’apparition de lésions musculo-squelettiques chez le cheval. Dans le but de mieux comprendre les contraintes engagées dans la dynamique locomotrice équine, des champs d’investigations ont été menés et des méthodes de mesures, basées sur les grands fondements de la mécanique newtonienne, ont été développées. Cette revue fait état des différentes techniques de mesures en biomécanique musculo-squelettique chez le cheval, et introduit les bases mécaniques indispensables à la compréhension du fonctionnement de l’appareil locomoteur chez le cheval

Computerised method to measure asymetrical articular compression on digitised X-rays

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