This study aimed to assess the potential use of IRT as an alternative method for measuring horse body temperature.

Horses diagnosed with chronic lower back pain were randomized into 2 treatment groups: high intensity laser stimulation of acupuncture points (HILSA) or therapeutic ultrasound (TU) applied to the lower back (T-18 to sacroiliac joint). The horses received a total of 8 treatments administered every other day during the study period (16 days). The reduction of pain between baseline (Day 0) and after treatment (Day 16) was evaluated both by TCVM acupoint sensitivity scan and pressure algometer. The acupoint sensitivity scan demonstrated statistically significant improvement for both treatment modalities. The HILSA Group change (8.13 ± 8.476) was very significant (p=0.0028) with a 66% change from baseline while the TU Group change (3.77 ± 4.38) was also significant (p=0.0223) with a 34% change from baseline. Comparison of the magnitude of improvement between groups was not statistically significant (p=0.0659). Algometer measurements experienced some limitations with inconsistent results. It can be concluded from study findings that both treatment modalities are associated with a statistically significant reduction of lower back pain in sport horses and selection of treatment can be based on the advantages and disadvantages of each modality dependent on the patient and situation.

Background and Aim: Echocardiographic assessment in equines is typically performed on standing animals; however, no studies have evaluated left ventricular function in anesthetized mules using high-dose xylazine. Given the unique pharmacokinetics in mules and their higher anesthetic requirements, this study aimed to assess the effects of acepromazine-xylazine-diazepam-ketamine anesthesia, using the upper limit xylazine dose (1.6 mg/kg), on the left ventricular size and function in mules. Materials and Methods: Six healthy adult mules (18.83 ± 0.75 years; 263.83 ± 39.34 kg) were evaluated using standard two-dimensional and M-mode transthoracic echocardiography. Measurements were obtained before sedation (standing) and 13-min post-anesthetic induction (dorsal recumbency). Each mule received an intravenous injection of acepromazine (0.04 mg/kg), xylazine (1.6 mg/kg), diazepam (0.1 mg/kg), and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg). Key echocardiographic parameters included interventricular septum thickness (interventricular septum in diastole and interventricular septum in systole), left ventricular internal diameters (left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and left ventricular internal diameter in systole [LVIDs]), posterior wall thickness (left ventricular posterior wall in diastole and left ventricular posterior wall in systole), ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS). Statistical comparisons were made using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (p < 0.05). Results: Heart rate, EF, and FS significantly decreased post-anesthesia (p < 0.01), indicating reduced systolic function. Specifically, LVIDs increased from 4.60 ± 0.65 cm to 6.26 ± 0.48 cm (p < 0.01), while no significant changes were observed in diastolic parameters or respiratory rate. Anesthetic induction was smooth and graded as good to excellent in all cases. Conclusion: High-dose xylazine significantly suppressed systolic cardiac function in anesthetized mules without causing arrhythmias or bradyarrhythmia. The combination protocol was effective and provided safe anesthesia induction, with echocardiography proving feasible under dorsal recumbency. These findings support the cautious use of upper-limit xylazine dosing in mules and suggest echocardiographic monitoring as a valuable tool during anesthesia. Keywords: anesthesia, echocardiography, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, mule, ventricular function, xylazine.

External hoof characteristics, balance, and conformation have been extensively studied in horses; however, mules remain understudied in these aspects. This study evaluated the size, shape, and symmetry of untrimmed and unshod forelimb hooves, compared the symmetry between forelimb hooves and stratified external forelimb hoof measurements based on the body condition score of mules raised in the foothill plains of northern Thailand. The forelimb hooves of 38 mules were photographed and 33 parameters, including angular and linear measurements, were analyzed. A multivariate analysis was used to explore the influence of sex, age, and body condition scores (BCS) on angular, linear, and area parameters. Additionally, one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used to compare these parameters across different BCS groups. Despite the absence of shoeing and trimming, these mules exhibited optimal left–right forelimb hoof symmetry, with no significant (p < 0.05) differences in: outer wall length and inner wall length (OWL–IWL: Left 0.11 ± 0.66 cm; Right −0.12 ± 0.43 cm); sole length and sole width (SL^S–SW: Left 1.65 ± 0.76 cm; Right 1.46 ± 0.89 cm); dorsal hoof wall length and heel length (DHWL–HL: Left 4.00 ± 0.80 cm; Right 3.81 ± 0.72 cm); and frog length and frog width (FL–FW: Left 3.88 ± 1.13 cm; Right 3.82 ± 0.18 cm). However, significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed within each body condition score group for forelimb hoof measurements for DHWL, IWL, heel separation (HS), heel bulb distance (HBD), SW, FW, and FL, while sex and age had no significant differences across the study variables. These findings provide valuable insights into mule welfare and management, contributing to understanding of the interplay between overall health and hoof conformation in the study area.

External hoof characteristics, balance, and conformation have been extensively studied in horses; however, mules remain understudied in these aspects. This study evaluated the size, shape, and symmetry of untrimmed and unshod forelimb hooves, compared the symmetry between forelimb hooves and stratified external forelimb hoof measurements based on the body condition score of mules raised in the foothill plains of northern Thailand. The forelimb hooves of 38 mules were photographed and 33 parameters, including angular and linear measurements, were analyzed. Despite the absence of shoeing and trimming, these mules exhibited optimal left-right forelimb hoof symmetry, with no significant (p < 0.05) differences in: outer wall length and inner wall length (OWL - IWL); sole length and sole width (SLS - SW); dorsal hoof wall length and heel length (DHWL - HL); and frog length and frog width (FL - FW). However, significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed within each body condition score group for forelimb hoof measurements for DHWL, IWL, heel separation (HS), heel bulb distance (HBD), SW, FW, and FL. These findings provide valuable insights into mule welfare and management, contributing to understanding of the interplay between overall health and hoof conformation in the study area.