TheHorse.com logo
Sign In or Create a Login
for access to 15,300+ articles
News and veterinarian-approved articles on
equine health care from The Horse magazine.



Go to Article #:
 
Adoptable Horse
Sponsored By Exclusively Equine


Get a DVM
Article Library

Please Note: We have put articles into topic categories only when they are focused on those topics, not just if they mention the topic once. If you are having trouble finding something, please use the search box above.

Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Ailments/Syndromes > Heart Problems


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Aortic Valve Prolapse Prevalence in Horses Determined by Type, Duration of Training, ACVIM 2009  *
Certain levels and durations of training may predispose horses to aortic valve prolapse (AVP), said Gayle Hallowell, MA, VetMB, CertVA, Dipl. ACVIM-LAIM (large animal internal medicine), MRCVS, who presented research findings at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum, held June 3-6 in Montréal, Quebec. To date, the prevalence of ... Read full story
 8/8/2009
Tevis Veterinarians Add New Post-Ride Check  *
Head Tevis Cup veterinarian Greg Fellers, DVM, will implement a new post-ride vet check this year. His check will be conducted within two hours after horses complete the 100-mile ride from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, Calif. "What I am looking for in this new check is a continually falling heart rate. This check should find heart rates in the 44, 46, 48 ... Read full story
 7/30/2009
Third Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon Horse Dies  *
An outrider horse competing in the GMC Rangeland Derby chuckwagon race at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada, died Friday following a pulmonary embolism. The Thoroughbred was the second chuckwagon race horse to succumb to a cardiac issue, and the third to die at the event in six days. A chuckwagon team horse died from a cardiac episode following ... Read full story
 7/13/2009
Necropsy Shows Racehorse Died of Colitis Complications  *
The initial necropsy report on Team Valor's Sailor's Cap, who died suddenly in his stall three days after winning the June 14 Poker Stakes, showed that he died of probable cardiac arrest caused by colitis-X. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains colitis-X as a peracute, fatal disease of horses that is "characterized by sudden onset of profuse watery ... Read full story
 6/22/2009
No Change in Arrhythmic Horses after Human Heart Medication   *
In an attempt to quiet the fluttering of horses' hearts caused by atrial fibrillation, researchers in Belgium found that a human medication does not restore a normal cardiac rhythm, despite reaching therapeutic levels. Propafenone, an antiarrhythmic drug used with some success in human patients, does not appear to be a viable treatment option for ... Read full story
 2/14/2009
Heart Infections More Common Among Young Horses  *
Heart disease isn't just for the aging or overworked horse. Recent research in Belgium has shown that vegetative endocarditis, a bacterial infection of the heart, is actually much more likely to occur in younger horses than their older counterparts. Relatively rare in horses, endocarditis develops from bacteria circulating in the blood secondary ... Read full story
 2/7/2009
Equine Telecardiology Progresses  *
Earlier this year, a veterinarian in Connecticut performed a basic exam upon a senior horse prior to sedating him for a routine dental procedure. The 19-year-old gelding was a standard pasture puff--in he was in good condition, basically healthy, and a low-maintenance kind of guy. But when she put her stethoscope to his chest and heard what sounded ... Read full story
 10/21/2008
Former Royal Vet College Teaching Horse Dies   *
Invisible, the Irish-bred black mare with the faint star on her forehead who was the curse of many equine vet students' practical exams, has died at the age of 30. She spent seven years in retirement at The Horse Trust's Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire, England. Invisible was originally a British Army horse, but she retired from duty in ... Read full story
 10/6/2008
Aortic Rupture Cited in O'Connor Event Horse Death  *
According to a statement released on the U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Web site, preliminary necropsy findings on the horse Tigger Too, a 17-year-old gelding, show that he passed away from an acute abdominal aortic rupture. Final necropsy results are pending. Tigger Too died while competing at this weekend's Jersey Fresh CCI***. The horse was ... Read full story
 5/12/2008
Heart Murmurs: No Impact on Racing Performance in New Study  *
According to a group of researchers from the United Kingdom, heart murmurs are common in athletic horses, but do not negatively impact racing performance. "A high prevalence of heart murmurs is known to exist in horses," explained Lesley Young, BVSc, PhD, DVA, Dipl. ECEIM (European College of Equine Internal Medicine), DVC, MRCVS, an equine cardiologist ... Read full story
 4/15/2008
Treating Irregular Heartbeats  *
Chances are you know someone with a heart murmur--you might even have one yourself. Usually it's discovered at birth, and most often it's nothing to worry about. The heart is fine; it just makes a sound associated with blood flow. The same can be said for horses. A heart murmur is, essentially, the sound the blood flow makes, and flow murmurs or ... Read full story
 10/1/2007
University of Guelph Researchers Investigating Racehorse Heart Rates   *
Exactly how fast is the heart rate of a racehorse as it flies around the track? For the first time ever, two University of Guelph researchers will be able to answer this question as part of a study aimed at recording the maximum heart rate of racehorses when they're pushing themselves to the limit. With the help of a lightweight heart monitor tucked ... Read full story
 8/24/2007
Hennessy Dead of Apparent Heart Failure  *
Coolmore Stud’s talented stallion Hennessy reportedly died of apparent heart failure Aug. 9 at Haras La Mission in Argentina. The 14-year-old son of Storm Cat out of Island Kitty, by Hawaii, had shuttled to Argentina for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. He stood the Northern Hemisphere seasons at John Magnier and partners' North American farm, ... Read full story
 8/11/2007
ACVIM 2006: Aging and the Aortic Valve  *
Researchers from the United Kingdom report there is a decrease in contractile function of the aortic valve with age, resulting in aortic valve disease. Mark Bowen, BVetMed CertVA CertEM(IntMed) MRCVS, an associate professor in veterinary internal medicine at Nottingham Vet School, said, "Our aim was to define what is normal in the aging horse population." ... Read full story
 9/14/2006
ACVIM 2006: Echocardiographs and Pulmonary Arterial Pressures  *
Researchers have found that echocardiographic measurements of the pulmonary artery, aorta, and heart chambers gave a valid estimate of pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) in horses. The ability to measure PAP is key to diagnosing and following treatment of equine heart disorders. In the past, PAP was only done as an invasive procedure with specialized ... Read full story
 9/14/2006
World Cup Winner Electrocutionist Dead  *
Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist died of an apparent heart attack Saturday, several days after an abnormality was detected in the 5-year-old horse's heart. Dubai-based Godolphin Racing Inc. owned Electrocutionist, considered a top contender for the upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge. "He appeared to be responding well to treatment, ... Read full story
 9/9/2006
Treatment of Equine Heart Arrhythmia   *
Human defibrillators are being used successfully to treat horses with irregular heartbeats (fibrillation). Kim McGurrin, DVM, a graduate student at the University of Guelph's College of Veterinary Medicine, developed a procedure as part of her doctoral research that can cure horses of an irregular heartbeat without the use of medication. The procedure ... Read full story
 7/1/2005
Untimely End   *
The young man's name was Hank Gathers, and he was 23 years of age. He was a basketball star at Loyola Marymount University in California. The year was 1990, and Gathers the year before had become only the second player in Division 1 history to lead the nation in both scoring and rebounding in the same season. He was on his way to another landmark season. ... Read full story
 6/1/2005
BEVA Shares Education  *
The United Kingdom is famous for its rich history and deeply rooted traditions, but that doesn't mean its veterinarians are bound to ancient methods of equine medicine. Quite the contrary, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) hosts one of the world's most in-depth, cutting-edge continuing education meetings every year--the BEVA Congress. ... Read full story
 2/1/2005
Do Horses Have Heart Attacks?
Q: I read about horses that have died of apparent "heart attacks" during competitions, breeding, and even out in the field. I have had veterinarians tell me there is no such thing as a horse having a heart attack. What are people talking about when they report a horse has died of a heart attack? Molly A: In general, most horses ... Read full story
 1/1/2005
Impact of Valvular Heart Disease on Performance  *
Results of a four-year prospective study designed to determine the influence of training and heart size on atrioventricular (AV) valvular regurgitation (backflow of blood from the lower to the upper heart chambers) in Thoroughbred racehorses, and to determine any association between AV valve regurgitation and performance in Thoroughbreds, were presented ... Read full story
 11/3/2004
First Look Inside the Live Equine Heart   *
On July 9, a human interventional cardiologist and an equine veterinarian in Lexington, Ky., successfully completed the first step of a landmark procedure to repair a heart problem in a 5-month-old Thoroughbred colt called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). At best, the problem could cost him his athletic career if not corrected. At worst, it could ... Read full story
 9/1/2004
University of Wisconsin Veterinarians Try New Drug for Equine Heart Fibrillations  *
Veterinarians at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine believe they're the first to use an oral drug to resolve a chronic case of atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeats) in a horse. "It's too early to tell if there are fewer side effects, but flecainide is much easier to administer than quinidine," says Dr. Åse Risberg, ... Read full story
 8/4/2004
First Look Inside the Live Equine Heart (video added)  *
On July 9, a human interventional cardiologist and an equine veterinarian in Lexington, Ky., successfully completed the first step of a landmark procedure to repair a heart problem in a 5-month-old Thoroughbred foal called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). At best, the problem could cost the colt his athletic career if not corrected. At worst, it ... Read full story
 7/12/2004
Understanding Congestive Heart Failure   *
Congestive heart failure is a term describing a group of clinical signs that develop as a result of other cardiac diseases. As the name implies, equine congestive heart failure is generally an endpoint of disease, and it is considered rare in horses. There is little information available about congestive heart failure, but a study from North Carolina ... Read full story
 1/1/2004
AAEP 2002: Equine Heart Murmurs  *
Studies show that more than 80% of racehorses have cardiac (heart) murmurs, according to Jonathan Naylor, MRCVS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVN, of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Canada. Naylor presented "How to Diagnose Aortic and Mitral Regurgitation in Older Horses: A Case-Based Approach" ... Read full story
 2/19/2003
Pericarditis Study Results Released  *
Pericarditis is a disease involving the sac around the heart and the heart itself. The disease is uncommon. During the spring of 2001, however, an unexpectedly large number of cases were observed in Central Kentucky. These cases coincided with the mare reproductive loss (MRLS) syndrome. A recent study provided interesting findings about this outbreak. ... Read full story
 12/17/2001
Pacemaker Recipient Gives Birth   *
A Thoroughbred/Irish Draught mare received a pacemaker in groundbreaking surgery at Great Britain's Royal Veterinary (UK) College's Sefton Equine Hospital in February. Seven-year-old Xena was weak and collapsing on admission to the equine hospital; she suffered from a rare heart condition known as third-degree heart block, which slowed her heart to ... Read full story
 11/1/2001
Initial Pericarditis Survey In Yearlings Brings Good News  *
Dr. Doug Byars, head of the internal medicine unit at Haygard-Davidson-McGee veterinary firm in Lexington, Ky., reported that examinations on three farms of 150 Thoroughbred yearlings revealed no incidence of pericarditis. “This is a positive finding,” said Byars. “We’re very pleased.” Dr. Johanna Reimer, a specialist in veterinary cardiology with ... Read full story
 6/14/2001
Central Kentucky Pericarditis Cases: Nearly 60  *
The incidence of known pericarditis cases in Central Kentucky has reached nearly 60 horses. At least a dozen horses have died because of the condition, which produces inflammation of, and fluid in, the sac surrounding the heart. The cases have been submitted to the Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center for necropsy. Only about three were clinical ... Read full story
 6/14/2001
Kentucky's Pericarditis Cases Called 'Clinically Significant'  *
Additional cases of pericarditis are occurring in Kentucky and possibly other states (including Ohio), with the problem now claiming lives. Pericarditis is an inflammation of, and fluid in, the sac that surrounds the heart. Dr. Doug Byars, head of the internal medicine unit at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee (HDM) veterinary firm in Lexington, Ky., said veterinarians ... Read full story
 6/14/2001
Old Habits Dies Of Heart Attack   *
Champion and All American Derby (Grade 1) Quarter Horse Racing winner Old Habits died Tuesday morning of an apparent heart attack after a gallop at the San Luis Rey Downs training center. Trainer Danny Cardoza was ponying Old Habits off the track when the gelding began quivering and trembling, the jockey jumped off and Old Habits collapsed. A veterinarian ... Read full story
 11/10/2000
Hearing Heartbeats  *
To assist veterinarians in discerning normal from abnormal heart sounds, an interactive equine medical CD was created with recordings of 13 equine heart sounds and associated ultrasound images. The recordings include murmurs, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, and premature ventricular contractions. The sounds are included in the latest ... Read full story
 10/1/2000
Aortic Rupture  *
You’ve probably heard horror stories like these: A breeding stallion completes servicing a mare, slides off, goes down to the ground, gasps a few times, and dies. A 20-year-old pony being ridden by his young owner staggers sideways, falls to his knees, and dies moments later. The trail horse starts lowering his head, stumbles a bit, and drops dead. ... Read full story
 4/1/1999
Heart Murmurs
Q: Is a heart murmur in horses the same as a heart murmur in people? What signs will a horse with a heart murmur exhibit? How can a heart murmur be diagnosed? ANNE M. EBERHARDT The first indication of your horse's heart murmur might be during an examination by your veterinarian. A: The average 1,000-pound horse has approximately ... Read full story
 10/1/1998




AAEP Media Partner AAEVT Partner WEVA
Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.

Facebook | Twitter | RSS | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without written permission of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS is prohibited. THE HORSE, THE HORSE logo, THEHORSE.COM and THEHORSE.COM logo are trademarks of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS.