Oral Dimensions Related to Bit Size in Adult Horses and Ponies

A bit that fits is essential for horse welfare and good communication with the ridden, driven or led horses. The bit causes pressure on the sensitive structures of the horse mouth. The aim of this study was to investigate variation in oral dimensions related to bit fit in adult horses and ponies and to evaluate bit fit by comparing oral dimensions with the currently used bit size selected by the horse owner. The study population consisted of 554 horses and ponies, 308 geldings and 246 mares, age 5-29 years, presented for routine dental care. Oral dimensions: mouth width, distance between upper and lower jaw, tongue thickness and lower jaw width, were measured under sedation. Oral dimensions were compared with the most used bit mouthpiece size presented to the researcher by the owner. Bit type and material were recorded. All oral dimensions in adult horses and ponies varied by breed and sex. Mouth width and distance between upper and lower jaw correlated positively with age. Oral dimensions were significantly smaller in mares than in geldings. In coldblood Finnhorses, oral dimensions were greater than in other breeds; in ponies they were smaller. The majority of the oral dimensions correlated positively with each other. Lower jaw width did not correlate with tongue thickness. It was common to use a bit that did not fit the horse: the bit was either too short or too long (over 10 mm longer) compared to mouth width, compressed the tongue in between the upper and lower jaw, or the center link was of similar length compared to lower jaw width, thus possibly causing pressure points or a nutcracker effect on the bars of the lower jaw. Horses had, on average, space for a 14 mm thick bit without compressing the tongue. The results of this study can aid in choosing a horse bit size that fits correctly and does not cause discomfort. It is recommended that the fit of the bit is evaluated regularly as the horse ages.Peer reviewe

Behavioral Signs Associated With Equine Periapical Infection in Cheek Teeth

No studies have focused on dental pain signs associated with periapical infection in cheek teeth (CT) of horses. Moreover, the ability of owners to recognize signs of dental pain in horses has not been reported. We hypothesized that periapical infection will usually induce pain that manifests in the behavior of the horse. Removing the infected tooth will reduce the expression of such behaviors. Owners of 47 horses whose CT had been removed because of periapical infection participated in this study. They filled an internet-based questionnaire including 23 questions about eating behavior, bit behavior, and general behavior observed before and after the operation. The number of signs exhibited by each horse before and after CT removal was compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test. Values of P <.05 were considered significant. Before the operation, avoidance behaviors, such as evading the bit, difficulties in eating, and even asocial or aggressive behaviors were commonly reported by the owners. Removing the infected tooth significantly reduced the number of these behavioral patterns expressed by the horses (P <.001 for each group of behaviors), suggesting that they could be associated with dental pain. Half of the cases had been diagnosed during a routine dental examination, indicating that many owners did not realize that certain undesirable behavioral patterns of their horses might be associated with dental pain. These findings highlight the importance of training owners to recognize behavior potentially related to dental pain in horses and that routine dental examinations are essential for ensuring horses' well-being. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.Peer reviewe

Wintertime pharmacokinetics of intravenously and orally administered meloxicam in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)

Objective To investigate the pharmacokinetics of orally and intravenously (IV) administered meloxicam in semi domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Study design A crossover design with an 11 day washout period. Animals A total of eight young male reindeer, aged 1.5-2.5 years and weighing 74.3 +/- 6.3 kg, mean +/- standard deviation. Methods The reindeer were administered meloxicam (0.5 mg kg(-1) IV or orally). Blood samples were repeatedly collected from the jugular vein for up to 72 hours post administration. Plasma samples were analysed for meloxicam concentrations with ultraperformance liquid chromatography combined with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Noncompartmental analysis for determination of pharmacokinetic variables was performed. Results The pharmacokinetic values, median (range), were determined. Elimination half-life (t(1/2)) with the IV route (n = 4) was 15.2 (13.2-16.8) hours, the volume of distribution at steady state was 133 (113-151) mL kg(-1) and clearance was 3.98 (2.63-5.29) mL hour(-1) kg(-1). After oral administration (n = 7), the peak plasma concentration (C-max) was detected at 6 hours, t(1/2) was 19.3 (16.7-20.5) hours, C(max )1.82 (1.17-2.78) mu g mL(-1) and bioavailability (n = 3) 49 (46-73)%. No evident adverse effects were detected after either administration route. Conclusions and clinical relevance A single dose of meloxicam (0.5 mg kg(-1) IV or orally) has the potential to maintain the therapeutic concentration determined in other species for up to 3 days in reindeer plasma.Peer reviewe

Insulin dysregulation in a population of Finnhorses and associated phenotypic markers of obesity

Non peer reviewe

Adverse reactions of α2-adrenoceptor agonists in cats reported in 2003-2013 in Finland

Peer reviewe

Activation of complement system in kidney after ketoprofen-induced kidney injury in sheep

Peer reviewe

Cardiovascular effects of dobutamine, norepinephrine and phenylephrine in isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs administered dexmedetomidine–vatinoxan

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)Objective: To determine whether dobutamine, norepinephrine or phenylephrine infusions alleviate hypotension in isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs administered dexmedetomidine with vatinoxan. Study design: Balanced, randomized crossover trial. Animals: A total of eight healthy Beagle dogs. Methods: Each dog was anaesthetized with isoflurane (end-tidal isoflurane 1.3%) and five treatments: dexmedetomidine hydrochloride (2.5 μg kg–1) bolus followed by 0.9% saline infusion (DEX-S); dexmedetomidine and vatinoxan hydrochloride (100 μg kg–1) bolus followed by an infusion of 0.9% saline (DEX-VAT-S), dobutamine (DEX-VAT-D), norepinephrine (DEX-VAT-N) or phenylephrine (DEX-VAT-P). The dexmedetomidine and vatinoxan boluses were administered at baseline (T0) and the treatment infusion was started after 15 minutes (T15) if mean arterial pressure (MAP) was < 90 mmHg. The treatment infusion rate was adjusted every 5 minutes as required. Systemic haemodynamics were recorded at T0 and 10 (T10) and 45 (T45) minutes. A repeated measures analysis of covariance model was used. Results: Most dogs had a MAP < 70 mmHg at T0 before treatment. Treatments DEX-S and DEX-VAT all significantly increased MAP at T10, but systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was significantly higher and cardiac index (CI) lower after DEX-S than after DEX-VAT. CI did not significantly differ between DEX-S and DEX-VAT-S at T45, while SVRI remained higher with DEX-S. Normotension was achieved by all vasoactive infusions in every dog, whereas MAP was below baseline with DEX-VAT-S, and higher than baseline with DEX-S at T45. Median infusion rates were 3.75, 0.25 and 0.5 μg kg–1 minute–1 for dobutamine, norepinephrine and phenylephrine, respectively. Dobutamine and norepinephrine increased CI (mean ± standard deviation, 3.35 ± 0.70 and 3.97 ± 1.24 L minute–1 m–2, respectively) and decreased SVRI, whereas phenylephrine had the opposite effect (CI 2.13 ± 0.45 L minute–1 m–2). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Hypotension in isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs administered dexmedetomidine and vatinoxan can be treated with either dobutamine or norepinephrine.Peer reviewe

Comparison of psyllium feeding at home and nasogastric intubation of psyllium and magnesium sulfate in the hospital as a treatment for naturally occurring colonic sand (geosediment) accumulations in horses : a retrospective study

Background: Ingestion of geosediment (further referred as sand) may cause weight loss, diarrhea and acute or recurrent colic in horses. Our aim was to compare the efficacy of three treatment protocols in clearing colonic sand accumulations in clinical patients. This retrospective clinical study consisted of 1097 horses and ponies, which were radiographed for the presence of colonic sand. Horses included to the study (n = 246) were displaying areas of sand in the radiographs of >= 75 cm(2) and were treated medically monitoring the response with radiographs. The horses were assigned into three groups based on the given treatment: Group 1 was fed psyllium [1 g/kg body weight (BW)] daily at home for a minimum of 10 days (n = 57); Group 2 was treated once with psyllium or magnesium sulfate by nasogastric tubing followed by daily feeding of psyllium (1 g/kg BW) at home for a minimum of 10 days (n = 19), and Group 3 was treated by daily nasogastric tubing for 3-7 days with psyllium and/or magnesium sulfate (1 g of each/kg BW) (n = 170). Results: The initial area of sand did not differ significantly between the treatments. Group 3 had significantly less residual sand than Groups 1 and 2, and the proportion of resolved horses was higher in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2. Conclusions: Daily nasogastric tubing with psyllium and/or magnesium sulfate for 3-7 days removes large accumulations of sand from the colon in horses more effectively than feeding psyllium for at least 10 days.Peer reviewe

Circadian variation in ghrelin and certain stress hormones in crib-biting horses

Crib-biting is classified as an oral stereotypy, which may be initiated by stress susceptibility, management factors, genetic factors and gastrointestinal irritation. Ghrelin has been identified in the gastric mucosa and is involved in the control of food intake and reward, but its relationship to crib-biting is not yet known. The aim of this study was to examine the concentration and circadian variation of plasma ghrelin, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and β-endorphin in crib-biting horses and non-crib-biting controls. Plasma samples were collected every second hour for 24 h in the daily environment of eight horses with stereotypic crib-biting and eight non-crib-biting controls. The crib-biting horses had significantly higher mean plasma ghrelin concentrations than the control horses. The circadian rhythm of cortisol was evident, indicating that the sampling protocol did not inhibit the circadian regulation in these horses. Crib-biting had no statistically significant effect on cortisol, ACTH or β-endorphin concentrations. The inter-individual variations in β-endorphin and ACTH were higher than the intra-individual differences, which made inter-individual comparisons difficult and complicated the interpretation of results. Further research is therefore needed to determine the relationship between crib-biting and ghrelin concentration.Peer reviewe

Porsimisen jälkeen annetun ketoprofeenin vaikutukset emakon terveyteen ja porsaiden kasvuun

The effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen on the post-farrowing phase of sows was studied in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Ketoprofen (3 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly to 20 healthy sows for 3 days post partum (p.p.). The control group (n=20) received a saline placebo. Backfat, number of days of constipation and days before feed refusal were measured. Body condition (BCS) and shoulder sores were scored during a week p.p. Changes in BCS, backfat and shoulder sore scores were analysed with ANOVA. Blood was collected on days -1, 0, 5 and 14 with respect to medication. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine kinase (CK), haptoglobin and serum amyloid A (SAA) were quantified and analysed with a Mann-Whitney U test. BCS and backfat decreased less following ketoprofen administration than with the placebo (-0.08 ± 0.2 vs. -0.8 ± 0.2, 1.0 ± 0.8 mm vs. -2.0 ± 0.9 mm, respectively, P<0.05 for both) during the first 2 weeks of lactation. The shoulder sore score deterioration was milder during days 4-6 p.p with ketoprofen than with the placebo (P<0.05). Duration of constipation was shorter with ketoprofen than with the placebo (5.5 ± 0.3 vs. 6.4 ± 0.3 days p.p. P<0.05). Incidences of feed refusal occurred later in the ketoprofen than in the placebo group (9.6 ± 0.9 vs. 3.8 ± 0.8 days p.p., P<0.05). AST and SAA were higher after ketoprofen than placebo on day 5 p.p. (P<0.05). Ketoprofen benefits sows during the first 2 weeks post farrowing, but apparently causes some tissue irritation.Peer reviewe