Proposal and Validation of a Scale of Composite Measure Reactivity Score to Characterize the Reactivity in Horses During Handling

This study aimed to identify the parameters related to the expression of the reactivity in horses during handling and based on that proposed and validated a scale of composite measure reactivity score to characterize horse's reactivity. To this end, the first stage (S1) proposed the scale and the second (S2) validated it. In S1, 364 Lusitano horses were evaluated, 188 were adult breeding mares (4–12 years old), and 176 were foals (males/females, aged from 2 months to 2 years). During hooves trimming, vermifuge application, palpation scores were assigned to behaviors of movement, ears and eyes position, breathing, vocalization, and urination. A response parameter called reactivity was attributed to each animal, ranging from score 1 (nonreactive/calm) to score 4 (very reactive/aggressive). The verification of the possible parameters (age, behavior), which explains the response parameter (reactivity), was taken using ordinal proportional odds model. Movement, breathing, ears and eyes position, vocalization, and age appear to explain the reactivity of horses during handling (P < .01). Therefore, based on these parameters, it was possible to propose two scales of composite measure reactivity score: one to characterize the mares and another the foals. On S2, the proposed scale was validated by the simultaneous application of Forced Human Approach Test, another commonly used test to evaluate the reactivity in horses, with a correlation of 0.97 (P < .05). The assessment of the reactivity of horses during handling by a composite measure reactivity score scale is valid, and easy to apply, without disrupting daily routine and override the impact of individual differences.

Clínica médica e cirúrgica em espécies pecuárias e equinos

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a descrição das atividades desenvolvidas no âmbito do estágio curricular do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária pela Universidade de Évora. Numa primeira parte é apresentada a casuística acompanhada ao longo do estágio, com referência mais pormenorizada a alguns casos clínicos acompanhados nas diversas áreas de intervenção: clínica médica e cirúrgica de espécies pecuárias e equinos. A segunda parte deste relatório é composta por uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os temas “exame neurológico em equinos”, “ síndrome do poldro lavanda” e “vírus do Nilo ocidental”. Na última parte serão relatados de três casos clínicos acompanhados neste âmbito; Clinical medical and surgery in livestock species and horses Abstract: The current report describes the activities developed during the Curricular externship as parts of the Veterinary Medicine Integrated Masters from University of Evora. The first part includes the casuistry that took place along the externship, giving enphasis to some of the clinical cases assessed in different livestock species and equine clinic areas. The second part presents a literature review approaching “neurologic examination in horses”, “lavender foal syndrome” and “west Nile vírus” as its main themes. For the ending part there are described three clinical cases followed during the externship.