Geldings Research Articles

Development and Evaluation of a Surgical Simulator and Assessment Rubric for Standing Castration of the Horse.

In veterinary education, simulators are models or devices that can imitate a real patient or scenario and allow students to practice skills without the need for live patients. Castration is a common surgical procedure in all species, and the standing, open technique is frequently performed in horses. Although a simulator has been developed for equine closed castration, a simulator for standing castration in the horse has not yet been described. This two-part study focused on the design, creation, and evaluation of a simulator for teaching standing castration in the horse. A low-technology simulator was created using molded silicone testicles, cohesive bandage, stockings, and socks. A rubric was created for assessing performance using the simulator. Participants were recruited from three groups: university academic staff members (n = 12, majority equine veterinarians), equine veterinarians working in private practice (n = 9), and final-year veterinary students (n = 28). Each group tested the simulator while being graded using the developed rubric, and participants completed an anonymous online feedback questionnaire. Feedback was positive overall, with 98% of respondents (n = 48/49) stating that the model would be a useful addition to the veterinary curriculum. Furthermore, 100% of students reported that using the simulator increased their confidence in performing standing castration in horses. Evaluation of the model included assessment of responses from veterinarians and students regarding realism and usefulness of the simulator, comparison of rubric scores between veterinarians and students, and assessment of the reliability of the rubric. Median student rubric score was significantly lower than qualified veterinarians (p < .001), and Cronbach's alpha demonstrated that there was adequate internal reliability in rubric scoring (α = .85). It was determined that the simulator is effective for teaching the steps of the surgical procedure and for increasing student confidence.

Doping control of estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione in horses.

Estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione (dienedione) is an anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) available on the market as a dietary supplement for bodybuilding. It is prohibited in both human and equine sports due to its potential performance-enhancing effect. With the rare presence of the 4,9-diene configuration in endogenous steroids, dienedione has been considered as a synthetic AAS. Nevertheless, the reoccurring detection of dienedione in entire male horse urine samples led to the investigation of its possible endogenous nature in horses, and its endogenous nature in entire male horses has been recently confirmed and reported by the authors' laboratory. While dienedione is not detected in castrated horses (geldings), it is essential to study its elimination and identify its metabolites for its effective control. To study the elimination and biotransformation of dienedione, administration experiments were performed by giving three castrated horses (geldings) each single oral dose of 1500 mg of dienedione powder for seven consecutive days. The postulated in vivo metabolites included 17-hydroxyestra-4,9-dien-3-one (M1a and M1b), hydroxylated dienedione (M2a, M2b, M3a, M3b, M4, M5) and hydroxylated M1 (M6a, M6b, M7a, M7b, M8a and M8b), formed from hydroxylation and reduction of dienedione. To control the misuse of dienedione in geldings, M3a and M3b are the potential targets that gave the longest detection time, which could be detected for up to 2-5 days in urine and 0.4-4 days in plasma.

Fisiopatologia e reconhecimento da dor em equinos

Pain is considered the fifth vital sign. Defined as an unpleasant sensitive and emotional experience associated with a real or potential tissue injury, or described in terms of that injury. It is a mechanism responsible for changing the physiological, behavioral and emotional mechanisms of the animal, being extremely harmful to physical and mental well-being. Pain is classified by temporal (acute or chronic), pathological (nociceptive or neuropathic) and local (somatic or visceral) charcateristics. Acute pain acts as a form of protection for the organism to prevent or minimize tissue damage, contributing to the animal's survival. Chronic pain is related to animal suffering, perpetuating for long periods. Nociceptive pain is part of the routine during consultations and is due to trauma and inflammatory processes. Neuropathic pain leads to sensory deficit. Nociceptors are responsible for nociception, and this is the physiological component of pain that includes the processes of transduction, transmission, modulation and perception by a nociceptive stimulus. Pain scales are useful tools for identifying pain in horses, and the assessment is made based on behavior and facial expressions. This review was prepared with the aim of presenting the physiopathogeny and recognition of pain in the acute abdomen and in the post-operative period of castration in horses through pain scales.

Effects of intravenous xylazine versus dexmedetomidine premedication with ketamine-midazolam-isoflurane anaesthesia for castration in horses

The objectives of this research was to study the sedation and anaesthetic characteristics of intravenous xylazine and dexmedetomidine combined with ketamine-midazolam-isoflurane and to evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects during the anaesthetic period. Stallions were premedicated with xylazine (1.1 mg/kg IV) in Group 1 and dexmedetomidine (3.5 µg/kg IV) in Group 2. Sedation quality was evaluated and scored. General anaesthesia was achieved with ketamine (2.2 mg/kg IV) and midazolam (0.1 mg/kg IV) in both groups and anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane inhalant in fresh oxygen gas flow (6-8 L/min). All the stallions underwent an orchiectomy by the half- closed method. Cardiovascular variables and pulmonary variables were recorded using multi gas vital sign monitor. Anaesthetic parameters, reflex status and quality of muscle relaxation were assessed. After the surgical procedure, recovery was monitored and scored on 6 point scale. Sedation score and quality was clinically better in Group 2. The difference in cardiopulmonary variables was statistically not significant. However, statistically significant changes were noticed between two groups with regard to some blood gas values during the intra-operative and at 15 min post anaesthetic period. Quality of muscle relaxation was better in group 2. Recovery was not significant. Overall quality of anaesthesia and recovery was almost similar in both the groups. In conclusion, both drug combinations produced satisfactory results for castration in the horses studied. In this study, dexmedetomidine at 3.5 µg/kg and xylazine at 1.1 mg/kg sedative doses did not result in much significant changes compared to one other.

Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol-ketamine-xylazine with or without remifentanil in thoroughbred horses undergoing castration.

We evaluated the clinical efficacy of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol-ketamine-xylazine (PKX) with or without remifentanil for castration in horses. Twenty-four Thoroughbred horses were premedicated with intravenous (IV) xylazine (1.0 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.02 mg/kg) and anesthetized with IV ketamine (1.5 mg/kg) and propofol (1.0 mg/kg). Surgical anesthesia was maintained with constant infusion of propofol (3.0 mg/kg/hr)-ketamine (3.0 mg/kg/hr)-xylazine (1.0 mg/kg/hr) (group PKX: n=8), PKX combined with remifentanil (3.0 µg/kg/hr) (group PKXR3: n=8), or PKX combined with remifentanil (6.0 µg/kg/hr) (group PKXR6: n=8). During anesthesia, none of the horses showed any limb movements, but five, two, and two horses in the PKX, PKXR3, and PKXR6 groups, respectively, showed cremaster muscle contractions. One horse in the PKX group required doubling the PKX infusion rate to continue surgery. Adverse effects of remifentanil (trembling of the nose tip or tongue) were observed in one and three horses in the PKXR3 and PKXR6 groups, respectively. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure were well maintained in all groups. Ventilation was assisted in four, five, and six horses in the PKX, PKXR3, and PKXR6 groups, respectively. Recovery scores in the PKX group were fair in one horse, good in three horses, and excellent in four horses, whereas recovery in all horses in the PKXR3 and PKXR6 groups was judged to be excellent. TIVA with PKX combined with remifentanil 3.0 µg/kg/hr could provide more sufficient anesthetic depth than PKX with fewer clinically significant adverse effects than that with remifentanil 6.0 µg/kg/hr.

Early Castration in Horses Does Not Impact Osteoarticular Metabolism

The castration of stallions is traditionally performed after puberty, at around the age of 2 years old. No studies have focused on the effects of early castration on osteoarticular metabolism. Thus, we aimed to compare early castration (3 days after birth) with traditional castration (18 months of age) in horses. Testosterone and estradiol levels were monitored from birth to 33 months in both groups. We quantified the levels of biomarkers of cartilage and bone anabolism (CPII and N-MID) and catabolism (CTX-I and CTX-II), as well as of osteoarthritis (HA and COMP) and inflammation (IL-6 and PGE2). We observed a lack of parallelism between testosterone and estradiol synthesis after birth and during puberty in both groups. The extra-gonadal synthesis of steroids was observed around the 28-month mark, regardless of the castration age. We found the expression of estrogen receptor (ESR1) in cartilage and bone, whereas androgen receptor (AR) expression appeared to be restricted to bone. Nevertheless, with respect to osteoarticular metabolism, steroid hormone deprivation resulting from early castration had no discernable impact on the levels of biomarkers related to bone and cartilage metabolism, nor on those associated with OA and inflammation. Consequently, our research demonstrated that early castration does not disrupt bone and cartilage homeostasis.

Open versus semi-closed castration in horses: which technique results in fewer postoperative complications?

Open versus semi-closed castration in horses: which technique results in fewer postoperative complications?

Malignant (Anaplastic) Amelanotic/Hypomelanotic Melanoma in a Kurdish Gelding

We report an 11-year-old Kurdish gelding with an anaplastic malignant melanoma arising from his right lateral of the neck, which developed over 6 weeks. A ~10 cm in diameter, firm, and non-ulcerated nodular subcutaneous mass located at the middle and proximal of the left side of the neck was detected in a physical examination. No evidence of local extent or metastasis was detected. Complete surgical excision was performed under general anesthesia. Gross morphology and histopathological examination of the mass confirmed an anaplastic malignant melanoma, in which the major part of the mass has little or no pigmentation. The gelding was euthanized due to tumor regrowth. The heterogeneity in pigmentation of equine melanocytic tumors can make diagnosis difficult in punch biopsy specimens. Anaplastic malignant melanoma is most often a very aggressive neoplasm and surgical excision was not effective in this case.

Total Intravenous Anaesthesia with Ketamine, Medetomidine and Midazolam as Part of a Balanced Anaesthesia Technique in Horses Undergoing Castration.

To evaluate the use of ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam total intravenous infusion as part of a balanced anaesthetic technique for surgical castration in horses. Five healthy Standardbred cross colts were premedicated with IV acepromazine (0.01–0.02 mg/kg), medetomidine (7 µg/kg) and methadone (0.1 mg/kg) and anaesthesia induced with IV ketamine (2.2 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.06 mg/kg). Horses were anaesthetised for 40 min with an IV infusion of ketamine (3 mg/kg/h), medetomidine (5 µg/kg/h) and midazolam (0.1 mg/kg/h) while routine surgical castration was performed. Cardiorespiratory variables, arterial blood gases, and anaesthetic depth were assessed at 5 to 10 min intervals. Post-anaesthesia recovery times were recorded, and the quality of the recovery period was assessed. The anaesthetic period and surgical conditions were acceptable with good muscle relaxation and no additional anaesthetic required. The median (range) time from cessation of the infusion to endotracheal tube extubation, head lift and sternal recumbency were 17.2 (7–35) min, 25 (18.9–53) min and 28.1 (23–54) min, respectively. The quality of anaesthetic recovery was good, with horses standing 31.9 (28–61) min after the infusion was ceased. During anaesthesia, physiological variables, presented as a range of median values for each time point were: heart rate 37–44 beats/min, mean arterial pressure 107–119 mmHg, respiratory rate 6–13 breaths/min, arterial partial pressure of oxygen 88–126 mmHg, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide 52–57 mmHg and pH 7.36–7.39. In conclusion, the co-administration of midazolam, ketamine and medetomidine as in IV infusion, when used as part of a balanced anaesthetic technique, was suitable for short term anaesthesia in horses undergoing castration.

Effects of flunixin meglumine, meloxicam, and firocoxib on the acute-phase proteins in horses following standing castration

ABSTRACT: Excessive infection and inflammation are the most common complications associated with castration. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of flunixin meglumine (FM), meloxicam (MX), or firocoxib (FX) for inflammation control after castration in horses using acute-phase proteins (APP) as markers of inflammation. Thirty healthy, unbroken, mixed-breed horses (body weight 358.62±45.57kg and age 4.99±2.63 years) were randomly (n=10 animals/group) allocated to receive one of three different post-castration anti-inflammatory medicines: Group 1 (FM 1.1mg/kg bwt, IV, s.i.d for 5 days); Group 2 (MX 0.6mg/kg bwt, IV, s.i.d for 5 days); and Group 3 (FX 0.1mg/kg bwt, IV, s.i.d for 5 days). All horses were castrated in standing position, using the open technique. Serum and peritoneal APP concentrations were measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and determined before castration (0), and 3, 5, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 hours after castration. The results were submitted to analysis of variance using the SAS statistical program, and means were compared by the Student-Newman-Keuls test (p&lt;0.05). Three animals from the MX group developed hyperthermia (with rectal temperatures of 39.8, 39.3 and 38.9°C on day 4, 5 and 6, respectively) and showed local clinical signs of inflammation (inguinal and excessive scrotal edema) and reluctance to walk, as well as a rigid gait of the hind limbs. The same complications were observed in one FX horse. No complications were observed among the FM animals. The castration resulted in significant changes in serum and peritoneal values of total proteins, ceruloplasmin (Cp), transferrin (Tf), albumin (Alb), haptoglobin (Hp) and α1-acid glycoprotein (Gp) in animals of all experimental groups. However, the animals of the MX and FX groups presented more intense acute phase response compared to the animals of the FM group. Changes in the APP were associated with the surgical trauma of castration, but the differences between groups were associated with the ability of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to control the inflammation. In conclusion, and based on the findings of acute phase proteins, flunixin is more efficient to control the magnitude of inflammation following castration as compared to meloxicam and firocoxib.

Hernioplasty with Laparoscopy Mesh Application in Equine with Incisional Hernia

Background: Incisional hernia in the midline can be a consequence of abdominal surgeries, which incidence is around 5.7-18%. Surgical indication occurs in cases of large hernias, and the most common techniques used involve the closing of the musculature in a primary way, with sutures, and the implantation of a mesh on the abdominal wall. Laparoscopic hernioplasty emerged as a less invasive option, showing superiority when compared with open surgical techniques in human medicine, however there are few reports describing this technique in equines. So, the aim of this paper is to report a case of hernioplasty, using laparoscopic mesh, in a horse with midline incisional hernia.Case: A 13-year-old castrated male Brasileiro de Hipismo horse, weighing 415 kg, practitioner of classic equestrian, presented an incisional hernia after 14 days from an exploratory laparotomy surgery realized to treat colic syndrome. After 6 months, the patient was referred to a Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital for the correction of the defect in the abdominal wall. During palpation, the animal did not present local pain or other sign of inflammation, and the hernia measured approximately 20 cm in diameter. The animal was submitted to general anesthesia and placed in dorsal decubitus for the hernioplasty surgical procedure. An incision was made in cranial region of the midline, close to the xiphoid to introduce a single port; the abdomen was inflated with CO2 gas (12 mmHg) and the operating table was tilted in order to displace the organs cranially, facilitating the laparoscopic procedure. The abdomen was inspected and the presence of a single adherence could be observed, which was disrupted with endoscopic forceps. The mesh was introduced through the single port incision and anchored to the musculature, using polypropylene 2 following the marking points previously performed on the implant, covering the defect in the abdominal musculature. In the postoperative period, analgesia was instituted with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotic therapy with intravenous benzylpenicillin potassium+gentamicin sulfate, and daily dressings. The animal showed pain responsive to the instituted analgesia in the first 24-72 h after surgery. The discharge was established after 18 days of hospitalization with the recommendation of daily dressings and use of compressive bandage until the complete healing of the wound. Postoperative complications resulting from the laparoscopic hernioplasty technique was not observed in this case.The hernia reduction was satisfactory, with a good aesthetic result after five months, when the animal resumed its athletic activities.Discussion: Laparoscopy hernioplasty is poorly described in equine medicine, and there are no reports of this procedure performed in Brazil, however, it is widely used in human medicine with results superior to open hernioplasty techniques. In the present case and in others reported in the literature, the laparoscopic technique proved to be effective in reducing incisional hernias in horses. The animals had good regression of the hernia sac and the aesthetic result was satisfactory, with few post-surgical complications. In studies in which the open hernioplasty technique was used, there was a higher occurrence of complications, in addition to more intense pain resulting from the procedure and later return to athletic activity, demonstrating that the minimally invasive technique by video surgery can be advantageous.

Effects of Flunixin Meglumine, Firocoxib, and Meloxicam in Equines After Castration

This study is “aimed” to evaluate and compare the efficacy of flunixin meglumine (FM), firocoxib (FX), and meloxicam (MX) after castration of horses. Thirty horses were submitted to open castration and divided into three groups (n = 10) depending on the anti-inflammatory drug administered: group I (GI) (FM, 1.1 mg kg1, IV, once a day [SID], 5 days); group II (GII) (FX, 0.1 mg kg1, IV, SID, 5 days), and group III (GIII) (MX, 0.6 mg kg1, IV, SID, 5 days). Clinical, behavioral, and hematological parameters and the peritoneal fluid (PF) were evaluated before (day [D] 0) and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days afterward. In the postoperative, scores of limb rigidity and prepuce edema of animals of GII and GIII were greater than those of GI. Tachycardia was observed in the horses of GII and GIII and hyperthermia in GIII. An increase in the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes without exceeding the reference values and hyperfibrinogenemia was observed in the animals of GI (D7), GII (D1-D7), and GIII (D7). There was reduction in serum protein after castration, together with an increase of this in the PF of the animals of the three groups. The PF on D0 was straw yellow and limpid, became reddish and cloudy on D1, and then gradually moved toward its normal color on the ensuing days, but without returning to normal on D7 in any of the groups. The results showed that castration triggers significant clinical and laboratory changes and that FM, FX, and MX are equally effective in controlling pain and inflammation in horses after castration; however, FM was more advantageous.

Bidirectional knotless barbed versus conventional smooth suture for closure of surgical wounds in inguinal castration in horses

BackgroundCastration of the stallion is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the horse. Recently barbed suture materials for surgical wound closure were introduced to the market with manufacturers claiming that these sutures enhance speed and security as they eliminate the need to tie knots. Recently, it has been suggested that this type of suture may increase postoperative complications. This study aimed at investigating and comparing a bidirectional absorbable knotless barbed suture (KBS) to a conventional smooth suture (SS) for wound closure of inguinal castrations in the horse. This was done by evaluating short-term and post-discharge complications and by comparing the time spent on suturing the surgical wounds after bilateral inguinal castration, which was performed on 45 horses undergoing castration at The Large Animal Teaching Hospital at University of Copenhagen from September 2017 to May 2019.ResultsShort-term complications were few; at 24 h minor swelling occurred in 29 and 33% of horses sutured with KBS and SS respectively and cutaneous dehiscence during recovery occurred in two horses of each group. Post-discharge follow-up revealed that three horses needed veterinary attention for treatment of complications (scrotal swelling (n = 1, KBS); wound exudation (n = 1, SS) and wound dehiscence after return to pasture (n = 1, SS)). Wound closure was achieved 6 min faster with KBS than with SS (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsUse of the KBS suture did not result in increased occurrence of postoperative complications. Wound closure was faster with KBS than with SS in equine bilateral inguinal castration. Our results show that KBS can safely be used in the horse following bilateral inguinal castrations without adverse effects and with a reduction in suturing time.

Pharmacopuncture Analgesia Using Flunixin Meglumine Injection into the Acupoint GV1 (Ho Hai) After Elective Castration in Horses

The study evaluated the effect of a 1/10 dose of flunixin meglumine administered into the governing vessel 1 (GV1) acupoint in horses that underwent castration. Twenty animals received 0.02 mg/kg detomidine intravenously, followed by 2.2 mg/kg ketamine and 0.1 mg/kg diazepam by the same route, and also a local anesthesia with 30 mL lidocaine. As postoperative analgesia, the animals received 1.1 mg/kg flunixin meglumine IV (FIV) or 0.11 mg/kg flunixin meglumine into the GV1 acupoint (FGV). Behavioral parameters were assessed 12 hours before the procedure (baseline) and at 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery; physiological parameters were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 24 hours after surgery. The groups did not differ regarding pain scores. Heart rate was higher in the FIV group than in the FGV group 2 hours after surgery (46 ± 5.2 bpm vs. 37 ± 8.2 bpm); gut sounds decreased at 2, 4, and 6 hours in both groups. The temperature showed a decrease after 2 hours compared with baseline in the FGV group, and the systolic blood pressure was higher in the FGV group than in the FIV group at 8 hours (158 ± 18.1 mmHg vs. 134 ± 14.5 mmHg), 10 hours (157 ± 15.5 mm Hg vs. 130 ± 11.5 mmHg), and 12 hours (151 ± 18.7 mmHg vs. 134 ± 15.8 mmHg). Pharmacopuncture was as effective as conventional dose and route of flunixin meglumine in horses that underwent elective castration under those conditions.

Obstructive Urolithiasis in Horse

Background: Obstructive urinary tract disease in horses is a rare and low prevalence pathology in the species, but potentially severe. It is an emergency condition that presents variable clinical signs and depends on the anatomical location of the obstruction. The bladder calculus are the most common followed by the urethra and less commonly seen are the kidney or ureteral. The main crystalloid component of uroliths in horses is calcium carbonate. The higher prevalence of urolithiasis in male horses is justified by some anatomical differences between genders. The urethra of males is narrower and longer than that of females. The tissue injury is the most important factor for the development of uroliths in horses. Desquamation of epithelial cells, presence of leukocyte and necrotic cell debris are relevant contributors to crystal growth. Urinary stasis favors nucleation by increasing the chance of contact between crystalloid material and urinary epithelium. Once crystal growth has begun, the urine alkalinity of the equines favors the crystallization and further deposition of other components, especially calcium carbonate. Typical clinical signs of urolithiasis include tenesmus, dysuria, strangury and polaquiuria. Hematuria is often present, mainly observed after exercise and at the end of urination. In addition signs of colic are quite frequent in the acute bladder and urethral urolithiasis due to bladder distension. Upper urinary tract surgery may be technically challenging due to limited structural exposure, especially in adult horses The prognosis for horses with urolithiasis depends on the location of the urolith and the degree of renal injury that occurred.Case: This report aims to describe a rare case of obstructive urolithiasis in a 8-year-old castrated male horse with 24 h evolution. The horse was expressing signs of abdominal pain and during the transretal examination through palpation, it was possible to notice great distension and turgidity of the bladder, in addition to a high pain sensitivity to the palpation of the kidneys. Was perform urethral catheterization, but it was unproductive. The diagnosis was made through perineal ultrasonography and treated surgically by perineal urethrotomy. The animal presented an excellent evolution after being discharged after 10 days of hospitalization and did not present any complication or recurrence of the disease after one year of the procedure.Discussion: Urolithiasis in horses has a prognosis dependent on the location of the urolith and the degree of renal damage. Cases of obstructive urolithiasis in horses are rare and require prompt and appropriate intervention. Therefore, a rapid and accurate diagnosis is directly related to the success of the treatment. In the present case, the animal had characteristic clinical signs of an acute abdomen. Transrectal palpation, for evaluation of the intestinal portions, was important to diagnose an excessively distended urinary vesicle with no intestinal changes. Transcutaneous ultrasonography of the perineum allowed visualization of the calculus, and then a case of perineal urolithiasis was diagnosed. The choice for perineal urethrotomy was performed because of the ease of palpation of the calculus through the skin below the anus and because it is a non-invasive technique. The urethra was sutured to guide the cicatricial process and the urethral catheter was maintained, reducing the risks of occlusion of the urethral lumen.

Managing castration complications

There are many possible approaches to ‘routine’ castration of horses with normally descended testicles and the approach utilised is generally decided by the clinician. Unfortunately, complications are relatively common after castration, ranging from rates of 10–60% of animals, therefore knowledge of their predispositions, signs and management is essential to prevent further morbidity and mortality. Reported complications include excessive swelling, haemorrhage, infection (including clostridial infections), funiculitis, peritonitis, eventration, penile trauma +/- paralysis, hydrocoele formation, continued stallion-like behaviour and anaesthetic complications. Most complications are not considered life threatening and do not require emergency treatment; the exceptions are eventration, haemorrhage, peritonitis and clostridial infections, all of which are potentially life-threatening.

Laparoscopic castration in stallions with two different testicular blood vessels occluding techniques

Castration of horses is indicated for many reasons and could be performed with variable techniques. Laparoscopic castration is an improved choice. Laparoscopic castrated horses have better cosmetic appearance, return rapidly to normal physical status and have little postoperative complications. The main challenges during laparoscopic castration are obtaining an optimal visualization of the internal inguinal orifices and their content of vas deferens and testicular blood vessels and appropriate occlusion and transaction of the testicular blood vessels to obtain avascular atrophy of the testicles that remains in situ within scrotum. Laparoscopic castration was performed in horses lied in lateral recumbency for better visualization of the target structures and two methods for vascular occlusion were compared. Endo-clipping is effective testicular vessels occluding method and more reliable than bipolar cauterization. Lateral recumbency layout decreased risks of hemodynamic changes during surgery and provided optimal visualization of the surgical field.

Analysis of Behaviors Observed During Mechanical Nociceptive Threshold Testing in Donkeys and Horses

The aims of the study were to analyze and compare behaviors in horses and donkeys observed during nociceptive threshold tests with a mechanical stimulus applied to the limb. The purpose was to identify end point behaviors suggesting the animals had perceived the stimulus to be noxious. Six male castrated horses (aged 3–4 years, weighing 415–503 kg) and eight castrated male donkeys (aged 4–9 years, weighing 152.5–170.5 kg) were studied. Video data recorded during mechanical nociceptive threshold test were analyzed by a single observer. Behaviors were classified into short-duration event behaviors and longer duration activity/state behaviors. Frequency of behaviors within a test (event behaviors) and percentage time spent during the test (activity/state behaviors) were calculated. Data were compared between horses and donkeys using Mann–Whitney tests (nonparametric data) or t-test (parametric data). Significance was taken as P < .05. Behaviors during the tests were observed which could indicate the animals perceived the stimulus as noxious. These included flattening ears back against the head, and turning the head (horses) and chewing (donkeys) although these were not consistent across both species. Foot lifts were often preceded by other behaviors which suggests that the foot lift was not purely a reflex withdrawal response. A shift in weight toward the contralateral limb was a consistent prodromal sign for an end point foot lift.

Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) Dressing in Treatment of Equine Limb Distal Wounds

Numerous topical wound medicants are available today. Very few of these products have been tested in horses. Due to the unique nature of wound healing in the distal limbs of horses (carpus, tarsus and distad), many of these medicants seen in different animals but not been reproduced in equine limb wounds. The present investigation aimed to determine if application of Moist exposed Burn ointment (MEBO) dressing would improve measures of wound healing compared with a non‐adherent, semi-occlusive dressing applied to wounds created on the distal aspect of the equine limb. The study was performed on five clinically healthy non castrated horses weighing, 380–500 kg and aged from 14 -–17 years. A 6.25 cm2 wound was created on the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal metacarpus on each forelimb. A MEBO dressing was applied to one limb as a treatment and a non‐adherent, semi-occlusive dressing was applied to the contralateral limb as a control. Bandages were changed every 3 days for 39 days. Granulation tissue was scored and wound area measured every 3 days. The result of this study revealed that MEBO treatment accelerated wound healing in each horse and complete closure was achieved on average 9.4 ± 1.7 days sooner than in control wounds (p < 0.01). In addition, MEBO wound dressing did not increase granulation relative to control at any time point. It was concluded that MEBO wound dressing improved some measures of wound healing compared with the control dressing most significantly during the first 30 days. This suggests that MEBO wound dressing may be useful in the early management of wounds on the equine lower limb.

The Efficacy of Meloxicam Oral Suspension for Controlling Pain and Inflammation After Castration in Horses

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a meloxicam oral suspension (MOS) for pain and inflammation control after castration in horses. The study consisted of 88 healthy, unbroken, 2-year-old mixed breed horses (primarily Quarter horse and draft type). Group 1 animals (n = 44) received MOS at the dose of 0.6 mg per kg body weight administered orally at the time of castration then daily for two consecutive days. Group 2 animals (n = 44) received 0.9% saline at the dose of 1 mL per 25-kg body weight administered orally at the time of castration then daily for two consecutive days. Animals were castrated on day 0 and observed for clinical signs of pain and inflammation for four (4) consecutive days. Pain behavior scores and visual analog scores were significantly greater in control animals over meloxicam-treated animals at all observation periods (P < .05). The Stiffness Score at the time of leaving the chute was significantly different in control animals over meloxicam-treated animals at all observation periods (P < .05). The meloxicam-treated animals had significantly greater movement indices 24 to 96 hours after castration (P < .05). Meloxicam-treated animals had significantly lower swelling than control animals at all observation periods (day 1, day 2, and day 3; P < .05). It is concluded that daily administration of MOS at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg for 3 days significantly reduces postsurgical pain and inflammation in horses for at least 4 days after castration.