Differences in hoof balance between horses, mules and donkeys were identified in order to form more specific considerations for proper management of the animals. Measurements of the natural dimensions of hooves in sixty animals were used: 20 horses from the Crioulo breed, 20 mules and 20 donkeys from the Pêga breed. Liveweight was estimated using the correlation equations in each species by heart girth. Using a caliper rule, tape measure and hoof gauge, measurements of the length and width of the frog, hoof height, angle of heel, medial and lateral dorsal length, angle of the toe and crown circumference of the hooves of forelimbs and hindlimb were taken. Within each group the hooves of the hindlimbs exhibited narrower measurements than the hooves of the forelimbs and no difference was observed between the hoof angle of both members of groups. The conformation of the hooves of donkeys is shown to be substantially different from that observed in horses, the mules being in an intermediate condition, being smaller, angled and robust frog and proportionally more developed. Similarly, the hooves of donkeys provide greater support area compared to mules and horses, in descending order, even being dimensionally smaller. We conclude that the hooves of horses, mules and donkeys, have specific patterns of geometric balance that must be taken into consideration at the time of trimming and imbalance inferences. Keywords

Pulmonary inflammatory diseases are common among athletic horses. Treatments include environment control, corticosteroidsand bronchodilators, and, in some cases, they may be palliative. Cell therapy plays a potential role in treatingmany horse injuries, but it has not yet been indicated for equine pulmonary inflammation. This study hipothesis was thatintrabronchially instilled platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can benefit horses with pulmonary inflammation. 10 adult horses ofdifferent breeds and engaged in various activities, with spontaneous cough, were examined. Physical examination, endoscopicexamination, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytology were conducted as study methods. A solution (20mL) containing autologous PRP diluted in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) was instilled in the right and the left main bronchusthrough an endoscopically guided procedure. The animals were reevaluated seven days after the treatment. As a result,physical examination and BAL fluid cytology identified RAO, IAD and a normal BAL fluid cytological profile in two, fiveand three horses, respectively. However, none of the horses had cough, and tracheal mucus grade decreased (p = 0.051)seven days after the treatment. The IAD horses showed significative improvement, indicated by a comparison of the mucusgrade and BAL fluid neutrophil amount before and seven days after the treatment (2.4 ± 1.1 vs. 1.4 ± 0.5, p = 0.034 and13.0 ± 5.0 vs. 5.0 ± 3.3, p = 0.014, respectively). Intrabronchial PRP instillation was benefic for horses with IAD and mayrepresent a novel therapy for athletic horses with pulmonary inflammation, further studies being necessary.

RESUMOAmostras de sangue foram obtidas de 138 equinos registrados da raça Campeiro, com idade média de 9,7±5,4 anos, sendo 14 machos (10,15%) e 124 fêmeas (89,85%). Observaram-se valores médios da atividade sérica de GGT: 13,73±4,08 U/L; AST: 246,34±72,87U/L; ALT: 5,13±1,18U/L; FA: 284,32±53,33UI/L; CK: 132,54±72,25U/L; LDH: 511,38±143,65U/L; e das concentrações séricas de ureia: 38,65±12,62mg/dL e de creatinina: 1,24±0,24mg/dL. Os valores médios de AST, FA, ALT, ureia e creatinina foram semelhantes aos propostos na literatura para outras raças. Os valores de CK, GGT e LDH foram superiores aos comumente utilizados como referências. Não houve diferença nas concentrações de nenhum dos componentes séricos avaliados nas diferentes idades analisadas. Maiores valores médios nas concentrações de ureia e menores de creatinina foram observados nas fêmeas em relação aos machos, assim como a maior atividade sérica de FA em fêmeas gestantes em relação às éguas vazias. O perfil bioquímico sérico de equinos sadios da raça Campeiro apresenta variações peculiares que devem ser levadas em consideração na interpretação de exames laboratoriais.Palavras-chave: equino, Campeiro, análises clínicas, bioquímica sérica, enzimas GGT: 13.73 ABSTRACT Blood samples were obtained from 138 equines of the Campeiro breed with mean ages of 9.7±5.4 years, including 14 males (10.15%) and 124 mares (89.85%). Mean values of serum of

In developing and emerging countries, many people make a living from picking municipal solid waste to sell for reuse or recycling. These people depend on cost-effective transport vehicles like horse-drawn carts. It is indisputable that the general health of these horses not only plays a major economic role but is a welfare issue as well. Orodental disorders are likely to be of particular importance as they directly impair health, performance, and therefore influence animal welfare and income. However, studies investigating prevalence and distribution of orodental disorders in working horses are scarce. This cross-sectional study is a survey of orodental alterations in 70 South Brazilian urban mixed-breed cart horses. All animals were subjected to a standardized clinical and subsequent specific orodental examination, and no horse had previously received dental treatment. Age and gender-related distribution and correlation of type and prevalence of orodental disorders were assessed. Excessively sharp enamel points (98.6%), cheek tooth diastema (65.7%), and mucosal ulcers (65.7%) occurred most frequently. Diastemata were more likely to be present between maxillary and mandibular Triadan 06/07 and mandibular 10/11. Male horses showed a higher individual number of orodental alterations than females ( P = .048). Incisors were often worn down and endodontically affected, occurring most frequently in horses >18 years ( P = .004) and males ( P = .048). Results indicate a high prevalence of orodental changes among South Brazilian cart horses. Poor orodental health in working horses is an animal welfare issue and may be influenced by the socioeconomic status of waste pickers.

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