A survey on the use of rugs in Australian horses     

EG Cox  RJW Bell  RM Greer  LB Jeffcott 《Australian veterinary journal》2023,101(1-2):9-26

The practice of horse rugging has important implications for horse welfare and performance, but in Australia, rugging practices have not been properly documented. The objective of this study was to obtain an understanding of Australian horse rugging practices. An online survey reviewed the management of 2659 Australian horses over 12 months. Of the reported horses a total of 84.8% were rugged, although most owners (69.5%) indicated that they were unsure whether horses needed to be rugged at all. Rugging was felt by 59.8% of owners to be a requirement for horses in competition. Riding and competition were significantly associated with the use of rugs. Nearly all respondents (89.0%) felt that ‘over-rugging’ was a concern. However, 4.8% of owners would use up to 4 rugs at any one time on their horse and 21.4% of horses were still rugged in temperatures above 20°C in Australia. Many Australian horse owners (42.8%) also believe that horses feel cold if they are not rugged. Anthropomorphism when it comes to rugging horses cannot be justified as the horse has a much wider thermoneutral zone (TNZ) than humans. Australian climate, owner opinions, equestrian discipline and whether a horse is used for riding influence Australian horse rugging practices. However, current practices are based on limited available research and are not necessarily to the benefit of the horse. The major limitation was that the survey likely attracted respondents who are interested in the topic creating a self-selection bias.  相似文献   

Localisation and activity of cathepsins K and B in equine osteoclasts     

Gray AW  Davies ME  Jeffcott LB 《Research in veterinary science》2002,72(2):95-103

Cathepsin K and cathepsin B were immunolocalised in equine osteoclasts (OC s) present in ex vivo cartilage/subchondral bone samples. Samples were obtained post mortem from the lateral trochlear ridge (LTR) of six horses and ponies aged between 303 days gestation to 8 months. Strong expression of cathepsin K was detected in OC s, particularly those located at the osteochondral junction, apparently involved in the resorption of calcified cartilage. Cathepsin K expression was also detected in hypertrophic chondrocytes and in the endothelial cells of some blood vessels penetrating the hypertrophic zone of cartilage. By contrast, cathepsin B was either absent or present at very low levels in OC s.Osteoclast-like cells (OCL s) were generated in vitro from bone marrow (BM), obtained from the femurs of one horse and two ponies. High levels of cathepsin K activity but only very low levels of cathepsin B activity were demonstrated in OCL s using fluorogenic substrates for these enzymes. The cathepsin K activity could be blocked by the general cysteine proteinase inhibitor, E-64, but not by the cathepsin B inhibitor, CA-074Me. The cathepsin B activity was completely blocked by both CA-074Me and E-64. Taken together, these results suggest that cathepsin K is more important than cathepsin B in the osteoclastic resorption of bone and calcified cartilage of developing equine long bones. Given the apparent importance of cathepsin K in equine endochondral ossification further investigation into the possibility that abnormal expression of this enzyme is involved in the pathogenesis of equine developmental orthopaedic disease is warranted.  相似文献   

Monensin controlled-release intraruminal capsule for control of bloat in pastured dairy cows   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

LB LOWE  GJ BALL  VR CARRUTHERS†  RC DOBOS‡  GA LYNCH  PJ MOATE  PR POOLE†  SC VALENTINE 《Australian veterinary journal》1991,68(1):17-20

Monensin, a polyether ionophore antibiotic, is potentially an important agent for bloat relief in dairy cows grazing temperate legume-based pasture. A series of studies was undertaken to determine the effect of monensin, when delivered continuously in the rumen of lactating dairy cows by means of controlled-release capsules (monensin CRC). Such devices release approximately 300 mg/head/day for 100 d. A short-term pilot study made at Ruakura, New Zealand, tested monensin CRC in cows selected for high susceptibility to bloat and grazing lucerne (Medicago sativa) or red clover (Trifolium pratense). Treatment significantly reduced the incidence of bloat, while milk yield and protein yield were increased. There was no effect on fat yield. Following the pilot study, 6 large-scale field experiments involving a total of 368 lactating dairy cows, were made in Australia and New Zealand to confirm the effectiveness of monensin CRC for bloat control and to measure the effect of such treatment on milk production and composition. A severe bloat problem occurred in 2 experiments, mild bloat occurred in 2 others, while no visual signs of bloat were observed in the remaining 2 experiments. Bloat was significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced by monensin CRC treatment when data was pooled over the 4 experiments in which bloat occurred. Daily milk yield was increased in all experiments from a mean of 17.7 in untreated groups to 18.8 kg/head/day (P less than 0.05) in monensin CRC-treated cows. Protein percentage was not affected by treatment, while there was a decrease from 4.29 to 4.10% fat, although total fat yield was not affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  相似文献   

A rational approach to lameness and its prevention--at last?     

L B Jeffcott 《Equine veterinary journal》1991,23(4):233-234

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Use of iohexol for myelography in the horse     

A A Maclean  L B Jeffcott  R B Lavelle  S C Friend 《Equine veterinary journal》1988,20(4):286-290

The use of iohexol as a contrast agent for myelography is reported in two groups of horses. Group 1 (n = 6) were used only for myelography and to assess the clinical and pathological effects of intrathecal administration of iohexol. A volume of 20 ml at a concentration of 300 or 350 mg iodine/ml gave satisfactory myelographic detail with no serious clinical or neurological side effects. Only a minimal inflammatory response could be demonstrated in cerebrospinal fluid at four and 14 days after injection. At post mortem examination 14 days after myelography there was no evidence of meningitis nor was any other pathological change detected. Group 2 (n = 19) comprised a series of clinical cases of suspected cervical vertebral malformation. The only untoward sequelae recorded involved two horses in which iohexol was diluted with sterile water prior in intrathecal injection. A progressive necrotising meningitis developed in both cases which necessitated euthanasia. It was concluded that the major advantages of iohexol for use in the horse were its diagnostic quality, safety and low cost.  相似文献   

Effects of treadmill exercise on cortical bone in the third metacarpus of young horses.     

R N McCarthy  L B Jeffcott 《Research in veterinary science》1992,52(1):28-37

The effects of exercise and relative inactivity on cortical bone were compared in young horses. Two groups were used; one was given a 14-week programme of exercise (n = 6) and the other kept as unexercised controls (n = 6). The first nine weeks of exercise involved trotting and cantering (2 to 4 km d-1 at speeds up to 12 m s-1) on a treadmill set at an incline of 3 degrees. Over the next five weeks the horses were trained at near maximal speeds (that is, up to 14.5 m s-1) with no incline of the treadmill. At the end of the programme marked differences in cortical porosity and distribution of subperiosteal osteogenesis at the mid-shaft of the third metacarpal bone were found between the groups. Histomorphometrical examination of the dorsal cortex showed minimal bone remodelling in the exercised horses, but extensive modelling as evidenced by the large amount of subperiosteal bone formation. In contrast, the unexercised horses had significantly more bone remodelling and less formation of subperiosteal bone. The histomorphometric and microradiographic findings provided an explanation for changes in the non-invasive bone measurements that occurred during training. Bone mineral content of the mid-metacarpus was found to increase more in the exercised than the unexercised horses despite a lower overall growth in bodyweight. In those horses that completed the full training programme, ultrasound speed increased significantly by the end of the training programme. It remained unchanged in the horse that did not complete the full exercise programme and decreased slightly in the unexercised horses. The difference in ultrasound speed between the groups was considered to reflect differences in intracortical bone porosity, endosteal bone formation and alterations in skin thickness. The stiffness of cortical bone increased significantly in the exercised horses but remained unaltered in the unexercised horses.  相似文献   

Retrospective study of 103 presumed cases of tick (Ixodes holocyclus) envenomation in the horse     

Ruppin M  Sullivan S  Condon F  Perkins N  Lee L  Jeffcott LB  Dart AJ 《Australian veterinary journal》2012,90(5):175-180

Objective Review 103 cases of presumed tick envenomation in horses. Design Retrospective study. Method Variables, including date of presentation, age, breed, weight, presence of ticks, gait and respiration scores, duration of recumbency, treatment, outcome and complications were recorded. A series of univariable screening tests were performed and used in a multivariable logistic regression model. Results There were a total of 103 cases affecting 10 breeds, aged between 1 week and 18 years of age. Horses >6 months old and weighing >100 kg had a higher odds of death than those <6 months old and <100 kg. Cases were seen from North Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales and were more likely to present in the warmer months. There was no association between the number of ticks found on an animal and death. Horses with a higher respiratory score had higher odds of dying, but there was no association between gait score and survival. Horses recumbent >120 h after presentation had higher odds of dying. Complications were reported in 35% of horses. The odds ratio for survival was higher for horses receiving >0.5 mL/kg of tick antiserum. Overall, 74% of horses survived. Multivariable modelling was limited by the small sample size. Conclusion In general, tick envenomation in horses follows the geographic distribution of Ixodes holocyclus. Tick antiserum administered at >0.5 mL/kg increases the odds of survival. It would appear that the complications associated with managing a recumbent horse increase the odds of death.  相似文献   

Effects of intra-articular sodium pentosan polysulfate and glucosamine on the cytology, total protein concentration and viscosity of synovial fluid in horses     

C Kwan  R Bell  T Koenig  A Bischofberger  N Horadagoda  NR Perkins  LB Jeffcott  AJ Dart 《Australian veterinary journal》2012,90(8):315-320

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The Effect of Short‐ and Long‐Term Treatment with Manuka Honey on Second Intention Healing of Contaminated and Noncontaminated Wounds on the Distal Aspect of the Forelimbs in Horses     

Andrea S. Bischofberger Dr Med Vet  Christina M. Dart Dr Med Vet Diplomate ACVA  Nigel R. Perkins BVSc  PhD  Diplomate ACT  Ashley Kelly BAnVetBioSc  Leo Jeffcott MA BVetMed DVSc PhD FRCVS  Andrew J. Dart BVSc PhD Diplomate ACVS & ECVS 《Veterinary surgery : VS》2013,42(2):154-160

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Effect of Age and Prostheses Location on Rima Glottidis Area in Equine Cadaveric Larynges     

Andrea S. Bischofberger Dr Med Vet  Ines Hadidane Med Vet  Marta M. Wereszka BVSc Dip ACVS  Nigel R. Perkins BVSc  PhD  Dip ACT  Leo B. Jeffcott BVetMed  PhD  FRCVS  Andrew J. Dart BVSc  PhD  Diplomate ACVS & ECVS 《Veterinary surgery : VS》2013,42(3):286-290

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