Development of a fixed list of descriptors for the qualitative behavioral assessment of thoroughbred horses in the racing environment.

Introduction: Horse racing is a major sport practiced worldwide. The environment to which horses are exposed during race meetings can influence their behavior. However, to the best of our knowledge, a method for assessing a horse's response to its surroundings during the pre- and post-race periods has not yet been reported. This study aimed to create a standard list of descriptors for use in a qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA) focused on assessing the emotional expressivity of horses before and after racing events. Materials and methods: Seventy pre- or post-race 30-second videos of horses were randomly selected from our database of 700 videos. A panel of 8 experienced equine sports medicine specialist veterinarians watched a 60 min presentation on QBA. The panel then watched all videos randomly, simultaneously, individually, continuously, and without any verbal interaction, describing the descriptors related to the emotional expressivity of the horse after each video using a method known as free-choice profiling (FCP). Results: The initial selection of descriptors was based on those indicated by more than one evaluator in the same video, or descriptors with more than 20 occurrences. The second selection was performed based on the content validity index (CVR) to select the descriptors retained in the previous step. Another panel of six veterinarians scored each of the descriptors retained for content validity on a visual scale. Interobserver reliability was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and its respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). A natural language processing (NLP) algorithm was used to analyze the behavior (positive or negative polarity) of the descriptors based on the lexicoPT package of R software. Discussion/Conclusion: NLP analysis considered the descriptors "agitated," "troubled," "restless" and "irritated" to have a negative polarity, while "focused," "relaxed" and "peaceful" had a positive polarity. In the principal component analysis (PCA), descriptors in a negative state were associated with each other and inversely associated with descriptors in a positive state. We conclude with a fixed list of descriptors to be used in a QBA to assess emotional and welfare expressivity in racehorses' pre- and post-race environments.

Significant hematocrit decrease in healthy horses during clinical anesthesia / Redução significante dos valores de hematócrito em equinos saudáveis durante anestesia

Xylazine (XYL) and acepromazine (ACP) are known to decrease the hematocrit (HT) of horses when administered alone. However in routine anesthesia these drugs are administered by associations which ultimate effect in the HT is unknown but may cause false impressions about the hydration status, blood loss and red blood cell indices. The objective of this study was to characterize the values of HT in horses anesthetized with XYL, ACP, ketamine, midazolam, guaiphenesin, isoflurane and ephedrine. Twenty healthy horses were premedicated with either XYL 0.8 mg/kg (XYL group, n=10) or XYL 0.5 mg/kg plus ACP 0.05 mg/kg (XYL+ACP group, n=10). Anesthesia was induced with ketamine, midazolam and guaiphenesin and maintained with isoflurane. Ephedrine was infused for cardiovascular support. HT, vital parameters and blood gas values were evaluated at baseline, between each drug administration, after standing and 24 hours after baseline (24hBL). The HT started to decrease 17 and 40 minutes after premedication in XYL group and XYL+ACP group, respectively (p<0.05). The maximum decrease of 19% in XYL group and 17% in XYL+ACP group was observed after 1 hour of premedication (p<0.05). In both groups HT remained low for longer than 180 minutes and returned to baseline at 24hBL. A significant HT decrease should be considered in anesthetized healthy horses receiving XYL, ACP, ketamine, midazolam, guaiphenesin, isoflurane and ephedrine.

A administração isolada de xilazina (XIL) e acepromazina (ACP) pode diminuir o hematócrito (HT) de equinos. Na rotina anestésica, estes fármacos são administrados em associações, cujo efeito final no HT não é conhecido, mas pode causar falsas impressões sobre o grau de hidratação, perda sanguínea e índices hematimétricos. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os valores de HT de equinos anestesiados com XYL, ACP, cetamina, midazolam, EGG, isofluorano e efedrina. Vinte equinos hígidos foram pré-tratados com XIL 0,8 mg/kg (grupo XIL, n=10) ou XIL 0,5 mg/kg associada à ACP 0,05 mg/kg (grupo XIL+ACP, n=10). A anestesia foi induzida com cetamina, midazolam e EGG e mantida com isofluorano. A efedrina foi utilizada para suporte cardiovascular. O HT, parâmetros vitais e hemogasometria foram avaliados no momento basal, entre administração de cada fármaco, após retorno à posição quadrupedal e 24 horas após momento basal (24hBL). A diminuição do HT iniciou-se 17 e 40 minutos após administração da medicação préanestésica no grupo XIL e grupo XIL+ACP, respectivamente (p<0,05). A queda máxima de 19% no grupo XIL e 17% no grupo XIL+ACP foi observada após 1 hora da administração da medicação pré-anestésica (p<0,05). Em ambos os grupos, o HT permaneceu baixo por mais de 180 minutos e retornou aos valores basais em 24hBL. Deve-se considerar a ocorrência de uma redução significativa do HT em equinos hígidos anestesiados com XYL, ACP, cetamina, midazolam, EGG, isofluorano e efedrina.

Relação entre utilização de ferrageamento corretivo com tempo de tratamento e reabilitação de cavalos com laminite crônica / Relationship between the use of therapeutic shoeing, period of treatment and rehabilitation of horses with chronic laminitis

Foram revisados os dados de 138 equinos com laminite, atendidos no período de dez anos. Destes, 48 casos de laminite crônica foram selecionados com o objetivo de relacionar a recuperação clínica dos cavalos com a utilização de dois métodos diferentes de distribuição de apoio sobre os cascos: palmilha de isopor e palmilha de isopor associada ao ferrageamento. Os cavalos foram divididos de acordo com a recuperação clínica, método de distribuição de apoio escolhido e grau de rotação da terceira falange. Também foi estabelecido o tempo médio de tratamento. Considerando os graus de rotação 3 a 5, 6 a 8, 9 a 11 e acima de 11, e comparados os dois métodos de distribuição de apoio sobre os cascos, não foi observada diferença estatística na porcentagem de animais com recuperação clínica. Contudo, dos animais que utilizaram palmilha de isopor, 43,5 ± 14% recuperaram-se clinicamente, e nos que utilizaram palmilha de isopor associada ao ferrageamento, obteve-se 69,5 ± 19% de recuperação clínica. Não houve correlação entre o aumento do grau de rotação da terceira falange e tempo de tratamento. Também a recuperação clínica dos animais não teve relação com tempo de tratamento. A literatura correlaciona vários fatores ao prognóstico, porém, neste trabalho demonstrou-se que a o retorno à função anteriormente exercida pelo cavalo não está relacionado ao tempo de tratamento, contudo, sofre influência da utilização do método de ferrageamento.

Data from 138 horses with laminitis treated in the period of ten years were reviewed. Of these, 48 cases of chronic laminitis were selected in order to relate the clinical recovery of horses using two different methods of distribution of body weight on the hooves: foam pad and foam pad associated with shoeing. The horses were divided according to clinical recovery, the weight distribution method chosen and degree of rotation of the third phalange. Also the average time of treatment was established. Considering the degrees of rotation 3-5, 6-8, 9-11 and above 11, and comparing the two methods of distribution of body weight on the hooves, there was no statistical difference in the percentage of animals with clinical recovery. However, 43.5 ± 14% of horses that used foam pad and 69,5 ± 19% of them that used foam pad associated with shoeing recovered clinically. There was no correlation between the increase of the degree of rotation of the third phalanx and treatment time. Clinical recovery of animals was not related to treatment time. Several factors are correlated with prognosis in the literature, but this study demonstrated that the return of the function previously performed by the horse is not related to treatment time, however, is influenced by the use of shoeing.