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Background: Arthroscopy and splint bone removal are the common orthopedic procedures in horses. Estimation of the dynamics of acute phase proteins in postoperative monitoring seems to be interesting diagnostic approach. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the concentrations of plasma inflammatory markers—fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and protease inhibitors—following orthopedic surgery in horses. The study involved 114 horses, divided into two study groups undergoing: arthroscopy (41 horses) and splint bone removal (13 horses). The control group consisted of 60 healthy horses. The blood was collected before the surgery and 24, 48, 72 h, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 28 days after the surgery. Plasma fibrinogen, serum haptoglobin and proteinase inhibitors were measured. Results: In non-complicated cases of arthroscopy and splint bone removal, fibrinogen and haptoglobin increased stepwise from 24 h, achieved the maximum level at 72 h and returned to preoperative levels after 10–14 days. In one complicated case after arthroscopy surgery the marked increase in fibrinogen and haptoglobin concentrations was observed 24 h earlier than standard parameters of inflammation Conclusion: The study shows the evolution of APPs after arthroscopy and splint bone removal in 28 days postsurgery period and in the case of one complicated case of arthroscopy.

Obesity is a common problem in horses. The associations between obesity and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and between EMS and laminitis are known. However, there is a lack of data on whether obesity itself can affect hoof lamellae. Forelimbs and blood from 12 draft horses (six obese and six lean) from a slaughterhouse were acquired. To exclude laminitis and EMS horses, insulin concentration was measured, and hooves were radiographed. Histological evaluation was performed. The shape of the primary and secondary epidermal lamellae (PEL and SEL) was evaluated, and the length of the keratinized and total primary epidermal lamellae was measured (KPEL and TEL). All horses showed pathological changes in lamellae. In the lean group, the changes were longer SELs, more proliferated and separated PDLs, and less standard PDLs. In the obese group, the changes were a lower number of club-shaped and standard SELs and significantly more tapered SELs. No difference in the shape of PELs and the length of KPELs was noticed. The research did not confirm the effects of obesity on lamellar failure. The measurements taken indicate that the lamellae are much longer compared to other research studies; this could indicate that the length of the PEL depends on the hoof size.