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To the authors' knowledge, the effect of a combination of butorphanol tartrate and detomidine hydrochloride on the laryngeal function and symmetry of the arytenoid cartilages in young Thoroughbred horses has not been examined. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of administration of butorphanol and detomidine on left-to-right rima glottidis ratio (L:R RGR), cross-sectional area of the rima glottidis (CSARG) and grade of laryngeal function of Thoroughbred yearlings examined endoscopically at rest.Forty-six Thoroughbred yearlings underwent laryngeal video endoscopy, at rest, before and after sedation with butorphanol and detomidine. Three clinicians assigned grades of laryngeal function after reviewing the video recordings. The L:R RGR and CSARG were measured at the point of arytenoid cartilages' maximal abduction. Student's t-test was used to compare the L:R RGR and CSARG. Cohen's kappa (κ) was used to compare the intra- and interobserver agreements. Spearman's rank order was used to assess agreement between CSARG and grade of laryngeal function.Sedation had no effect on L:R RGR and CSARG. Mean intraobserver agreement of grade of laryngeal function of unsedated yearlings was 93.1%, and that of sedated yearlings was 92.9%. Mean interobserver agreement of grade of laryngeal function of unsedated yearlings was 92.8%, and that of sedated yearlings was 92.7%. Correlation between CSARG and laryngeal function grade was significant for both groups (p 0.001).Sedating Thoroughbred yearlings with detomidine and butorphanol, before endoscopically examining the larynx, did not significantly affect the grade of laryngeal function.

OBJECTIVE To investigate associations between inertial sensor and stationary force plate measurements of hind limb lameness in horses. ANIMALS 21 adult horses with no lameness or with mild hind limb lameness. PROCEDURES Horses were instrumented with inertial sensors and evaluated for lameness with a stationary force plate while trotting in a straight line. Inertial sensor–derived measurements of maximum and minimum pelvic height differences between right and left halves of the stride were compared with vertical and horizontal ground reaction forces (GRFs). Stepwise linear regression was performed to investigate the strength of association between inertial sensor measurements of hind limb lameness and amplitude, impulse, and time indices of important events in the vertical and horizontal GRF patterns. RESULTS Difference in minimum pelvic position was moderately (Ra2 = 0.60) associated with the difference in peak vertical GRF but had little association with any horizontal GRF measurements. Difference in maximum pelvic position was strongly (Ra2 = 0.77) associated with a transfer of vertical to horizontal ground reaction impulse in the second half of the stance but was not associated with difference in peak vertical GRF. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Inertial sensor–derived measurements of asymmetric pelvic fall (difference in minimum pelvic position) indicated a decrease in vertical GRF, but similar measurements of asymmetric pelvis rise (difference in maximum pelvic position) indicated a transfer of vertical to horizontal force impulse in the second half of the stance. Evaluation of both pelvic rise and fall may be important when assessing hind limb lameness in horses.

s Vol 30, No 2 (2010) 115 Recent evidence has suggested that exercise decreases insulin resistance in obese horses; this laminitis treatment is unique because exercise is prescribed before complete recovery if certain criteria are met. The success of this system may be dependent on owner compliance with diet and exercise recommendations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This treatment method may provide an effective method of restoring soundness and normal hoof anatomy in certain populations of laminitic horses. In this small population, hoof health was restored without surgical techniques. CONCLUSION Further investigation with more cases is warranted. Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Matrix Metalloproteinases in Laminar Tissue From Horses Subjected to Intestinal Obstruction and Treated With Hydrocortisone Luciane M. Laskoski, MSc, Carlos A.A. Valadao, DVM, Rosemeire O. Vasconcelos, DVM, Rafael Resende Faleiros, DVM, Danilo Ferrucci, MSc, Juliete A.F. Silva, MSc, and Dagmar R.S. Machado, DVM, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine (Laskoski, Valadao) and Department of Veterinary Pathology FCAVSao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil (Vasconcelos); Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary – Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30123-970, Brazil (Faleiros); Department of Applied Immunology University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13484-370, Brazil (Ferrucci, Silva, Machado) TAKE HOME MESSAGE Hydrocortisone treatment may be beneficial to reduce the risk of laminitis in horses subjected to intestinal surgery. INTRODUCTION Laminitis is a major complication of gastrointestinal diseases in horses and its physiopathology is connected with lamellar basement membrane degradation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and leukocyte infiltration. The objective was to study laminar MMP-2, MMP-9 and NGAL expression in horses subjected to jejunal obstruction treated or not with hydrocortisone. MATERIAL AND METHODS Zymography was performed to quantify MMP-2, MMP-9 and NGAL in laminar tissue samples obtained from horses allotted in the control group (CG, n 1⁄4 7); the sham-operated group (SG, n 1⁄4 5, jejunal enterotomy); the nontreated group (NTG, n 1⁄4 5, jejunal obstruction), and the treated group (TG, n 1⁄4 4, jejunal obstruction and hydrocortisone4mg/kg, IV). Calprotectin expression was used to confirm neutrophil laminar presence in obstructed groups. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Tukey post-hoc test (P < 0.05). RESULTS Overexpression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 occurred in obstructed groups (NTG and GT) when compared to CG horses. NGAL/MMP-9 complex expression was increased in the SG and NTG horses, but no increase was observed in horses treated with hydrocortisone (TG). Leukocyte presence in obstructed groups was detected by immunohistochemistry. DISCUSSION Amplifying previous findings that equine intestinal obstruction can cause lung neutrophil accumulation, our study indicates that jejunal obstruction may produce neutrophil accumulation and MMP overexpression in equine laminae and that hydrocortisone can ameliorate laminar inflammation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Hydrocortisone treatment may ameliorate laminar inflammation in horses subjected to intestinal surgery. CONCLUSION Intestinal obstruction can induce laminar MMP expression and inflammation. Leukocyte Infiltration and the Role of Interleukin-6 During the Development of Oligofructose Induced Laminitis Michelle B. Visser and Christopher C. Pollitt, Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia TAKE HOME MESSAGE The leukocytic infiltration of carbohydrate induced laminitis is preceded by IL-6 expression.