Objectives: To develop an experimental standing hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy (HALS) technique, report the associated peri-operative complications and document the short-term surgical outcomes. Methods and Results: Five healthy 300-470 kg horses that underwent standing HALS. Spleens of...

In veterinary practice in the UK, castration is probably the surgical procedure most commonly performed on horses. A large number of techniques have been described and refined over the years. However, despite this fact the complication rate remains high for an elective procedure. This article is...

This article presents guidelines on the prophylactic use of antibiotics before, during and after surgery to prevent bacterial complications in horses.

The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the therapeutical results of a pre- and postoperative treatment with phenylbutazone (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication) and Traumeel® (a homoeopathic combination) related to the castration of horses by using clinical parameters. The...

Current concepts in pain on animals suggest that - at least - mammals perceive and experience pain like humans do. Pain receptors are the free nerve endings. Qualitative analysis and interpretation is done in brain cortex (somatosensory area), while nociception may be done in lower centres. Pain...

The importance of prostanoids, such as thromboxane and prostaglandin E₂, in the shock associated with ileus in the horse was evaluated together with the effect of flunixin meglumine as an inhibitor to the synthesis of these mediators. A dosage of 1.1 mg/kg i.v. of flunixin was administered before...

A rabbit serosal scarification model was used to compare the ability of 4 drugs, previously administered peri-operatively to horses undergoing exploratory coeliotomy, to prevent the development of postoperative intestinal adhesions. The substances compared were 32% Dextran 70 (7 ml/kg), 1% sodium...