Summary Mammary gland problems occur incidentally in horses and one of the rarer conditions is botryomycosis (bacterial pseudomycosis, bacterial granuloma, staphylococcal pseudomycetoma). This article includes a short review of equine mammary gland problems inappropriate lactation, mastitis and neoplasia and botryomycosis, and additionally 2 clinical cases of botryomycosis of the udder resulting from Staphyloccocus aureus infection will be discussed. Both cases involved nonpregnant, nonlactating mares referred for chronic mammary inflammation with draining abcessation. In both mares, botryomycosis caused by S. aureus was confirmed by histopathology and a bacterial culture. Both mares recovered fully after surgical hemimastectomy under general anaesthesia.

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SummaryReasons for performing study: To compare the pharmacokinetics of the fourth generation cephalosporin, cefquinome, in neonatal foals, 6-week-old foals and mature New Forest ponies in order to recommend appropriate dosage regimens for use of this drug. Methods: Cefquinome was administered i.v. at 1 mg/kg bwt twice a day (q. 12 h), 1 mg/kg bwt 3 times a day (q. 8 h) or 4.5 mg/kg bwt q. 12 h to each age group (n = 6). Plasma cefquinome concentrations were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Both foal age groups had comparable pharmacokinetic data except for the volume of distribution at a steady-state (Vss), total body clearance (ClB) and mean residence time (MRT). Both ClB and MRT decreased as the age of the foals increased. Values of area under the curve increased, in a dose dependent manner, with significant increases for all age groups following administration of 4.5 mg/kg bwt q. 12 h. Total body clearance did not have comparable dose dependency. Conclusions: Cefquinome can be given at a dose of 1 mg/kg bwt q. 12 h for the treatment of infections caused by susceptible pathogens with MIC<0.125 mg/ml. A higher dose of 4.5 mg/kg bwt q. 12 h is recommended for the treatment of bacterial pathogens with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.125-0.5 mg/ml Potential relevance: Commonly used dosing regimens should be critically evaluated in neonatal foals due to the higher volume of distribution of less lipophilic drugs in this age group.

Position 4 was particularly influential on intrathoracic pressure during exercise in horses. The effects detected may have been caused by a dynamic upper airway obstruction and may be more profound in horses with upper airway disease.

Background: Acylcarnitines play an important role in fuel metabolism in skeletal muscle. Objective: To assess acylcarnitine ester utilization by the hindlimb of horses at rest and following low intensity exercise and carnitine supplementation. Animals and methods: Acylcarnitine ester uptake by the hindlimb was investigated using the arteriovenous difference technique. Blood from six warmblood mares (mean age 12 § 3 (SD) years and weighing 538 § 39 kg) was collected simultaneously from the transverse facial artery and from the caudal vena cava. Food was withheld for 12 hours prior to exercise. Exercise comprised a standardized treadmill protocol consisting of 5 minutes of walk, 20 minutes of trot and thereafter another 5 minutes of walk. At the end of the first exercise day, three horses were given carnitine supplementation (100 mg/kg bodyweight), whereas the other horses received saline. The next day the exercise was repeated and blood samples collected similarly. Free carnitine and acylcarnitines were analyzed as their butyl ester derivatives in heparinized plasma by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed using a general linear mixed model. Results: C3-carnitine, C6-carnitine and C14:1-carnitine showed the largest average extraction by the hindlimb at rest and C3-carnitine, C5:1-carnitine and C16-carnitine immediately after low-intensity exercise. Carnitine supplementation significantly increased free carnitine, C5-carnitine and C8-carnitine extraction. Conclusion: Carnitine supplementation altered the extraction of acylcarnitines by the hindlimb in horses exercising at low intensity. Clinical importance: Findings might aid in optimizing performance and myopathy prevention of the equine athlete.