A. Fürst

Auswirkungen von Haltung, Fütterung und Nutzung auf die Pferdegesundheit unter besonderer Berücksichtigung respiratorischer und gastrointestinaler Krankheiten

In einer zufallig ausgewahlten Pferdepopulation in der Schweiz leiden 54% aller Pferde an einer COPD. Ursache der COPD ist eine Hypersensitivitat des Respirationstraktes gegenuber im Heu enthaltenen Pilzsporen und thermophilen Aktinomyceten. Ebenfalls ursachlich im Zusammenhang mit der Futterung entstehen Zahnprobleme, die dritthaufigsten von praktischen Tierarzten behandelten Krankheiten. Nutzungsbedingt entwickeln sich Magenulzera am haufigsten bei Rennpferden, die je nach Untersuchung eine Magenulkus-Pravalenz von ca. 63 bis 90% aufweisen. Bei einer Untersuchung in der Schweiz konnten bei einer aus Ausbildungs-, Schul-, Sport- und Fahrpferden bestehenden Population bei 57.1% der Pferde Magenulzera festgestellt werden. Uberhohte Kraftfuttergaben, zu seltene und mengenmassig zu geringe Heufutterung pro Tag sowie der Einsatz von hygienisch nicht einwandfreien Futtermitteln und mangelhafte Bewegung sind wesentliche Grunde, die zur Entstehung von Koliken beitragen konnen.

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of cefquinome with the combination of penicillin G and gentamicin in equine patients.

Summary nThis prospective, randomised, nonblinded study compared the clinical efficacy of cefquinome to that of a combination of penicillin and gentamicin. Patients (374 horses and 13 donkeys) at the equine hospital of the Vetsuisse-Faculty of Zurich, presented from February-October 2007, were divided into prophylactic and therapeutic treatment groups. Equids from these groups were randomly treated either with cefquinome or with the combination of sodium penicillin and gentamicin. n nThere was no significant difference between the 2 treatment groups for prophylactic indications. In the therapeutic group, cefquinome showed better efficacy, as demonstrated by fewer complications of wound healing and fewer treatment failures with subsequent change to another antibiotic. Side effects were very rare in both treatment groups. Cefquinome can be used with safety and efficacy in equids. Cefquinome had greater efficacy than the combination of penicillin and gentamicin in the therapeutic group. However, there was no difference between the 2 antibiotic treatments in the prophylactic group. In order to minimise the development of resistance, cefquinome should therefore not be used for routine prophylactic treatment.

Erkrankungen im Bereich des Fesselträgerursprungs beim Pferd: Eine diagnostische Herausforderung

Lameness in horses due to pain originating from the proximal metacarpal/metatarsal region remains a diagnostic challenge. In cases of obvious lameness the pain can be localised to this region by diagnostic anaesthesia. Because a variety of disorders can cause lameness in this region different imaging modalities including radiography, ultrasonography and scintigraphy should be used to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Even though a precise anatomic-pathologic diagnosis can still be an enigma, because not only bone and joints, but also soft tissue structures including the proximal suspensory ligament, its origin at the proximal metacarpus/ metatarsus, its fascia, the superficial fascia, as well as the intermetacarpal/metatarsal ligaments, the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon and both digital flexor tendons may be involved. Magnet resonance tomography (MRT) shows a high diagnostic sensitivity in imaging soft tissue structures and bone. In horses MRT is still at the beginning. The MRT appearance of the proximal metacarpal/metatarsal region has not yet been evaluated in detail and there are only few anatomic studies of the origin of the suspensory ligament in horses. The first experiences showed, that more gross and histologic examinations are necessary to fully interpret MRT-images and to differentiate pathologic alterations from clinically not relevant variations.