mindofavet

So, there you are having to decide how to treat before you have all the information you need. A bit of local knowledge and a close look at the horse will get you in the ballpark (see 99 problems...part 1 ). How do you take that first step? Begin appropriate empiric treatment before going to narrow spectrum It may take between 24 and 72 hours (plus transportation time and non-working days because some people have weekends) to obtain positive identification of the pathogen. While you are waiting, broad-spectrum therapy can begin. In horses, the combination of a beta-lactam like penicillin or ampicillin with an aminoglycoside, whether it be amikacin in foals or gentamicin in adults, is widely practiced with good reason. This will likely cover most common bacterial infectious agents. Alternatively, other broad spectrum antibacterials can be used. Knowledge of regional sensitivity and resistance patterns, gained from previous culture results, is invaluable to minimize chances of delayin...

Rupture of and subsequent hemorrhage from the uterine artery is the most common cause of death in mares after foaling 1 .  In a review of central Kentucky mares, reproductive complications accounted for the majority (57 of 98 cases) of deaths in mares around the time of foaling 2 .  Of those that died, rupture of a uterine artery was determined to be the cause of death in 40 cases (70%).  The incidence of peripartum hemorrhage in the mare has not been determined by retrospective studies of large numbers of mares, instead reports of clinical cases are found in the literature.  Peripartum hemorrhage has been reported to occur at any age, however older mares are considered to be at greater risk 3 .  Age-related degeneration of arterial vessels associated with the reproductive tract is suspected to be the reason for the increased incidence in older mares, coupled with the increased mechanical stresses imposed by the gravid uterus.  Uterine contractions and obst...

You are faced with a horse, a fever, exam findings suggestive of bacterial infection, and an anxious owner.   Where do you begin? Even when we have already initiated treatment, we have all been in the position where our carefully thought-out plan has not achieved our desired goals.   It is prudent to assess whether our understanding of the disease process at hand is truly complete, if we will choose or have chosen an appropriate therapeutic, and whether we fully appreciate the difficulties our chosen medications may have in meeting our treatment goals.   As we likely use antimicrobials daily in situations where a positive outcome for the animal and client is both needed and expected, a better understanding of the factors governing success of antimicrobials is the first step in ensuring that success. Consider the most likely organism(s) involved, if any When first asked to make a decision you won’t have the benefit of bacterial culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR...