Veterinary

A touch of glass: cryopreservation of equine embryos by vitrification

Mammalian embryos cryopreserve well when they are relatively small, contain a negligible blastocoele cavity and their structure allows for the passage of cryoprotectants into the cells. Equine embryos...

Lipid disorders in horses and foals

In horses, lipids are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in the form of fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids bind to albumin and travel through the portal circulation, but most fatty acids...

Extracellular vesicles in osteoarthritis: from biomarkers to therapeutic potential

Today, it is understood that osteoarthritis is a disease of the entire joint, including cartilage, subchondral bone, ligaments, synovial membrane and periarticular tissues. It is recognised as...

The impact of forage on equine welfare: a behavioural perspective

Starch and sugar are classed as non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) and are a main source of energy in a horse's diet. Low amounts of NSCs can be found in natural food sources such as grass and hay,...

The potential impact of artificial intelligence in equine practice

Artificial intelligence has the potential to play a significant role in equine welfare, from disease prevention to early detection and individualised treatment. Some tools are already widely used by...

Nutritional management of equine gastric ulcers

Equine gastric ulcers are reported in all ages and breeds of horse. The incidence of equine squamous gastric disease in researched cohorts is reported to be between 11–92% (Murray et al, 1989;...

Radiographic examination of the equine thoracolumbar spine

As for all radiographic examinations, positioning and preparation is key. The horse should stand squarely on all four legs to avoid rotation of the spine. Furthermore, the head and neck position...

Failure of passive transfer of immunity

The mammary glands of the mare have a small cistern (storage area) from which the foal nurses throughout the day, with the ejection of milk requiring the release of oxytocin. Healthy foals should...

Use of thoracic ultrasound to investigate respiratory disease: an update

Ultrasonographic examination is indicated in the investigation of suspected respiratory disease in foals and horses. Clinical findings which might prompt ultrasound investigation would include dull...

Fractured teeth in equids

Equid endodontic anatomy and how it changes with age have been well described (Dacre et al, 2008; Windley et al, 2009; Kopke et al, 2012; Englisch et al, 2018) with simpler endodontic anatomy in...

Muscle hypertrophy and its relevance to horses

There are three types of muscle: smooth, cardiac and skeletal. Smooth and cardiac muscles are controlled by involuntary neural stimulation. Skeletal muscle is controlled by conscious, voluntary neural...

The role of nutrition and feeding in equine weight management

The prevalence of both obese and overweight horses is high (Giles et al, 2014; Potter et al, 2016). However, how this is categorised and reported could be clearer, as defining whether a horse is...