Extraction of fractured cheek teeth under oral endoscopic guidance in standing horses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a technique for oral extraction of fractured cheek teeth (CT) under oral endoscopic guidance. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Horses (n = 30) with fractured CT. METHODS: Medical records (April 2007-August 2010) of horses that had standing oral extraction of fractured CT under endoscopic guidance were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty horses (median age, 11.5 years; range, 5-23 years) had 31 fractured CT (21 maxillary, 10 mandibular) removed. Midline sagittal fractures of maxillary teeth (n = 13; 42%) were the most common type, followed by buccal or palatal (10; 32%), and transverse or multiple (5; 16%) fractures. Extraction under endoscopic guidance was successful for 27 (87%) teeth. Median age of the surgical failure group was 7 years (range, 5-8 years), significantly lower than that of the surgical success group (P = .0135, Mann-Whitney U-test). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic viewing facilitates instrument use and removal of fractured CT in standing horses.

Effects of fenoldopam mesylate on systemic hemodynamics and indices of renal function in normotensive neonatal foals.

BACKGROUND: Fenoldopam mesylate, a dopamine-1 receptor agonist, has dose- and species-dependent effects on hemodynamics and renal function. The effects of this drug in normotensive neonatal foals have not been reported. HYPOTHESIS: Two doses of fenoldopam would result in distinct changes in the systemic circulation, urine output, and creatinine clearance of neonatal foals. ANIMALS: Six Thoroughbred foals. METHODS: Each foal received 2 dosages of fenoldopam (low dose, 0.04 microg/kg/min; high dose, 0.4 microg/kg/min) and a control administration of saline, in a masked, placebo-controlled study. RESULTS: High-dosage fenoldopam had no effect on renal function but caused a significant increase in heart rate and decrease in mean, systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure compared with saline. Low-dosage fenoldopam had no effects on systemic hemodynamics, significantly increased urine output, and had no significant effect on creatinine clearance or the fractional excretions of sodium, potassium, or chloride compared with saline. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These data suggest that high-dosage fenoldopam increases heart rate, decreases arterial blood pressure, and has no significant effects on renal function, whereas low-dosage fenoldopam has no significant effects on systemic hemodynamics while increasing urine output. This contrast is unique to this species and warrants further investigation.

Musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses: a study of three large training yards in Newmarket, UK (2005-2007).

Musculoskeletal injury is the most common cause of lost training days in the young Thoroughbred horse in flat race training. To date, there has been little investigation of the regional patterns of injury frequently observed by clinicians in racehorse practice. The present study was conducted to determine incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbreds in training in Newmarket, United Kingdom. Veterinary records for all horses resident in three large (>100 horse) training yards were assessed for occurrence of significant musculoskeletal injury. A total of 248 injuries were recorded in 217 individual horses, from a total population of 616 individual horses; fractures of the tibia (20.7%) and proximal phalanx (14.5%) were the most common. Overall injury rates were similar between yards (23-26%/year), with seasonal patterns noted for some injury types. Incidence of certain injuries (P1, metacarpal/metatarsal condylar, pelvic fractures, and superficial digital flexor tendonitis) varied between yards. The majority of carpal, P1 fracture and SDF tendonitis cases were right-sided.