AgradecimentosAo meu pai, que apesar de não ter tido oportunidade de me acompanhar nessa trajetória, sempre me apoiou em todas as minhas decisões e com quem sempre compartilhei meus sonhos. À minha mãe, responsável por muito do que sou e do que serei. A vocês, obrigada por todo amor e dedicação na minha formação. À minha irmã Isabelle, pelo suporte e apoio nos momentos de maior tensão.Ao Fefê, por todo amor, cumplicidade, ensinamento e parceria neste período.Obrigada por me passar um pouco de sua espiritualidade, por me ensinar a superar as dificuldades e mostrar que o no amor não existem diferenças. Agradeço também às nossas cachorrinhas Clara, Madona e Tina.À Elisinha, por todo amor e festa desde o momento que acordo até a minha volta para casa. Obrigada por me ensinar a amar mais os animais e ter ainda mais compaixão por eles. Group 2 comprised horses admitted to the hospital for medically managed orthopedic cases. Group 1 consisted of horses admitted to the hospital for surgical management under general anesthesia. Group 2 comprised horses admitted to the hospital for medically managed orthopedic cases. Group 1 consisted of horses admitted to the hospital for orthopedic surgery. Group 2 comprised horses admitted to the hospital for medically managed orthopedic cases. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed daily from admission to fifth day of hospitalization. Group 1 animals also had pre-and post-operative ultrasonographic evaluation to assess the effect of surgery on the gastrointestinal system. Ultrasonography was not successful at early detection of colic in any animal. The results also showed a higher incidence of colic in animals undergoing surgery (with no statistical difference), particularly on the second or third day postoperative, as well as a reduction in both large and small colon motility in animals undergoing surgery. No significant changes in wall thickness of the evaluated loops were observed. In conclusion, ultrasonographic examination could not successfully predict colic but was useful for confirmation of gastrointestinal originof clinical symptoms during the examination of affected animals.

Riders and trainers believe that oral maltodextrin (MD) supplementation prior to exercise increases blood glucose availability and delay the onset of fatigue in horses, although there is no evidence supporting this claim. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of MD supplementation on blood glucose, L-lactate, insulin, cortisol levels, and heart rate in horses subjected to an incremental exercise test. A randomized placebocontrolled crossover trial was designed to test the effect of three doses of MD (50, 100 and 200 g) on blood glucose, L-lactate, insulin, cortisol levels, and heart rate of four Purebred Lusitanian geldings. A seven-step incremental field exercise test was used; the initial speed was set at 2.