• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.8
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• 2020

A 12-year-old Warmblood mare was presented with an acute onset left hindlimb lameness associated with generalised soft tissue swelling of the entire limb and medial saphenous vein (MSV) thrombophlebitis. A presumptive diagnosis of extremity compartment syndrome (ECS) was made. Due to the clinical deterioration, emergency fasciotomy of the crural fascia and biopsy was performed. Histological and immunohistochemical examination of the samples confirmed a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma likely originating from the tunica media of the MSV. This report is the first to describe an unique combination of ECS and thrombophlebitis associated with a leiomyosarcoma in a horse.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.250-252
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• 2014

After clinical and laboratory tests of a 12-year-old warmblood horse (castrated male, 540 kg) displaying symptom of pain, a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction due to foreign substances like sand was made and an abdominal section and enterotomy were conducted to confirm and extract the intestinal stone (enterolith) on the right dorsal part of the ascending colon. The extracted intestinal stone was around 2.9 kg and greenish brown rugby ball sized ($22cm{\times}10cm$) stone. Analysis of the element components (EDX) using a scanning electron microscope revealed percentages of C (30.08%), O (39.85%), Mg (3.89%), P (11.15%), and Ca (11.16%) at a magnification of 400. This was the first example of a successful extraction and treatment of intestinal stone in a horse domestically and thereby has its significance.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2021

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), often referred to as equine Cushing's disease, is a common endocrine disorder often diagnosed in older horses. A 13-year-old 460 kg Warmblood gelding showed clinical signs suggestive of PPID, including hypertrichosis, fat redistribution, polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD), and weight loss. Physical examination, complete blood cell count, and serum chemistry results were normal. However, dexamethasone suppression and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level tests confirmed PPID. Three months after the confirmed diagnosis, the horse was referred again with symptoms of laminitis. Radiography and venography were performed to evaluate the laminitis severity level. However, the foot condition continued to worsen, and the horse was eventually euthanized. The purpose of this case report is to describe clinical signs and diagnosis of PPID with laminitis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.94-97
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• 2021

An 18-year-old warmblood gelding was presented to Jeju National University Equine Hospital with chronic bilateral forelimb lameness. Navicular syndrome was suspected based on clinical findings, the hoof test, palmar digital nerve block, and radiographic results. Computed tomography (CT) was performed under general anesthesia. Bone cysts, enlarged vascular channels, sclerosis, and enthesophytes were identified in the navicular bone on CT images. Mineralization in the deep digital flexor tendon was also observed. CT can be a useful diagnostic tool for identifying lesions of the navicular bone and adjacent structures in horses. The horse was treated with an intra-bursal injection of triamcinolone and gentamicin. Lameness started to improve two days later and the horse was sound after two months of the injection. CT enabled us not only to diagnosis of navicular syndrome but also to determine the degree and extent of the lesions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2022

A 5 day-old Warmblood foal was presented with a quarter crack due to the dam accidentally stepping on his left hind foot. Physical examination revealed the vertical crack included the coronary band of the medial side of the left hind hoof (quarter crack) with the lower pastern avulsion wound. Different from adult horses, the foot of the 5 day-old foal lacked adequate hoof wall thickness for stainless steel wire insertion and hoof size for a reinforcing fabric to be applied. Therefore, the authors decided to stabilize the edges of the cracked wall only by the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composites without wiring and a reinforcing fabric application; and gluing a plastic shoe that was reshaped to protect the lower pastern and to spread pressure to other parts of the hoof when bearing weight. Disinfection and a supportive bandage were applied daily for 2 weeks. A month after the hoof crack accident, lameness had diminished. The quarter crack in this foal was treated successfully by the application of the composites three times with a reshaped gluing shoe, with approximately a month interval over the 4 months. After 4 months, it presented a successful functional recovery and needed no further treatment. When followed up 8 months after the accident, it revealed successful outcomes without hoof shape distortion and unbalanced hoof/limb growth.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 2015

A 10-year-old gelding Warmblood weighing 560 kg was referred to J&C Equine Hospital with the history of hyperpnea, depression, pawing, and rolling for 7 hours. According to the results of clinical and ultrasound examination, it was considered that intestines were distended with thickened wall. The horse had been treated with lactated Ringers' solution (14 L, IV), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV), and mineral oil (1 L, PO), but he did not show any responses to those treatments. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and identified incarcerated small intestine through the epiploic foramen. The horse received resection and anastomosis of the entrapped small intestine. After surgery, the horse was treated with intensive postoperative care of fluid therapy (5 L with 20 mEq/L KCl, every 2 hours), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV, sid), antibiotics (penicillin 22,000 IU/kg, IV, qid and gentamicin 6.6 mg/kg, IV, sid), lidocaine constant rate infusion (bolus 1.3 mg/kg over 15 minutes then 0.05 mg/kg/minute), common nutritional supplements, nasogastric intubation every 2 hours and trunk bandage. Postoperative feeding program had started with small amount of hay every 4 hours and gradually increased to normal amount till 5 days. At 77 days after surgery, he showed sudden outbreak of colic and was euthanized. The causes of colic were small intestinal strangulation by passing through the mesenteric rents and postoperative adhesion between small intestines. According to the results, it is recommended to perform perioperative intensive care of horse with colic and to use several methods to prevent adhesions during abdominal surgery of horses.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.792-799
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• 2022

Dopamine (DA) is known to be a key modulator of animal behaviors. Thus, the plasma concentration of DA might be used as a biomarker for the behavioral characteristics of horses. The behavioral characteristics of horses vary depending on the breed, age, and sex. Moreover, the DA receptor genotypes are also related to horse behaviors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the DA concentration variations of horse plasma by breed, age, sex, or genotype of its receptor. The horses were divided by breed into Thoroughbred (n = 13), Pony (n = 9), Warmblood (n = 4), and Haflinger (n = 5). The age variable was divided into three different groups: post-pubertal (2-5 years, n = 6), adult (6-13 years, n = 19), and aged horses (15-24 years, n = 6). The sex variable was divided into geldings (n = 8) and mares (n = 23). Approximately 10 mL of blood was collected, and an ELISA kit was used to measure the plasma concentration of DA. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to identify the genetic variation in the DA D4 receptor gene (DRD4). SPSS statistical software was used for statistical analysis. The DA concentrations in geldings were significantly lower than those in mares. There was no significant difference in DA concentrations among breed and age groups. Horses with the GG and GA genotypes had significantly higher plasma concentrations of DA compared to horses with the AA genotype for the G292A gene. Briefly, the plasma concentration of DA varied depending on the sex and genotype of G292A. These factors should be considered when the concentration of DA is used as a biomarker for the behavioral characteristics of horses. In conclusion, the DA concentration or DRD4 genotype of horse plasma has the potential to be used as a biomarker that can predict the behavioral characteristics of horses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.161-165
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• 2018

A 12-year-old gelding Warmblood Horse was presented with a corneolimbal mass in the right eye (OD) of 6 months duration. Clinical signs included ocular discomfort, persistent mucoid ocular discharge, and conjunctival hyperemia. The mass was excised by superficial keratectomy under sedation in a standing position, followed by a topical application of 0.04% mitomycin C (MMC), and a placement of a conjunctival advancement graft. The histopathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. One month after surgery, recurrence of the mass was suspected upon examination of the eye. Topical MMC and 5-fluorouracil followed by cryotherapy were applied as adjunctive therapies after debulking of the mass. The surgical site healed without complications and with a cosmetically acceptable result. No recurrence of the mass was noted four years following the second procedure.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.651-661
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• 2021

This study aimed to investigate whether breed, sex, and age affected temperament differently (more or less neophobic) in mature horses during a novel object test. The study included Jeju crossbred (n = 12, age = 9.42 ± 4.57 y), Thoroughbred (n = 15, age = 10.73 ± 3.09 y), and Warmblood horses (n = 12, age = 13.08 ± 3.55 y) with the females (n = 22, age = 11.36 ± 4.24 y) and geldings (n = 17, age = 10.65 ± 3.66 y). Jeju crossbreds (Jeju horse × Thoroughbred) are valuable considering their popular usage in Korea, but limited studies have explored temperament of Jeju crossbred horses. A trained experimenter touched the left side of the neck with a white plastic bag (novel object). The test ended when the horse stopped escape response and heart rate (HR) dropped to baseline. Behavioral score and escape duration were measured as behavioral variables. Multiple variables related to HR and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured to reflect emotional state. These included basal HR (BHR), maximum HR (MHR), delay to reach maximum heart rate (Time to MHR), standard deviation of beat-to-beat intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and ratio of low to high frequency components of a continuous series of heartbeats (LF/HF). Statistics revealed that Thoroughbreds had significantly higher behavioral scores, and lower RMSSD than Jeju crossbreds (p < 0.05), suggesting greater excitement and fear to the novel object in Thoroughbreds. None of the behavioral or cardiac parameters exhibited sex differences (p < 0.05). Age was negatively correlated with SDNN and RMSSD (p < 0.05), indicating that older horses felt more anxiety to the novelty than younger horses. Thoroughbreds and females had distinct correlations between behavioral and HRV variables in comparison with other groups (p < 0.05), implying that escape duration might be a good indicator of stress, especially in these two groups. These results are expected to improve equine welfare, safety and utility, by providing insights into the temperament of particular horse groups, to better match reactivity levels with specific functions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.226-232
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• 2012

This study was performed to evaluate the sedative and analgesic effects of intravenous (IV) administration of detomidine (D) and tramadol (T) to horses. Six warmblood horses each received D (10 ${\mu}g/kg$), T (2 mg/kg), and a combination of DT (10 ${\mu}g/kg$ and 2 mg/kg). No significant differences in the heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, indirect arterial pressure, and gastrointestinal motility between D and DT were observed. The sedative effect was evident within 5 min after D and DT administration, but no significant difference between D and DT was observed. D and DT induced a similar analgesic effect up to 50 min after injection and DT maintained a longer analgesic effect than D. A significant increase in blood glucose was shown for D after the injection, but not for DT. A horse with T and DT showed an excited behavior within 5 min of the injection. This study suggests that the DT combination could be used for diagnostic procedures and simple surgeries in standing horses, with caution for excitement in the early phase after the administration.