Dareshuri horses are the predominant breed in Fars Province, Iran. Although disorders affecting their maxillary cheek teeth and maxillary sinuses are relatively common, limited fundamental data are available on the dimensions and relationships of these structures at different ages. Given the significant anatomical changes in the heads of young horses as they mature, this study aimed to evaluate age-related changes in the position and anatomical relationships of individual maxillary cheek teeth within the rostral and caudal maxillary sinuses (RMS and CMS, respectively), as well as changes in the lengths and heights of individual sinus compartments during their growth. Radiographs were performed on 29 heads of live, healthy horses aged between 4 months and 5 years and were analyzed using the EConsole1 Radiography Viewer software (V.3, 2017, DRTECH Europe GmbH, Schwalbach am Taunus, Germany). Statistical analyses revealed that the only significant change throughout the study was an increase in the length of the CMS (4.075 ± 0.99 cm; SE), which was more significant in horses up to three years old. At less than 1 year old, the only tooth present in the maxillary sinus was M1. At 1–2 years old, M2 was observed entering the maxillary compartments; PM4 entered the RMS at 2–3 years old, and M3 entered the CMS at 3–4 years old. Eventually at 4–5 years old, PM3, M1, and M2 were present in the RMS, and M2 and M3 were present in the CMS. This information should be of value in the diagnosis and treatment of Dareshuri maxillofacial disorders and used as a reference for further anatomical investigations.

Colic, a major gastrointestinal disease in horses, has a high recurrence rate and can lead to surgery or fatal outcomes, highlighting the need for effective prevention measures. Disruption of the microbiome is a multifaceted problem and can occur from a variety of factors, such as high-concentrate diets, which can then potentially cause colic. However, individual variation in the incidence of colic can occur when under identical management practices. The aim of this study was to characterize the fecal bacterial composition of Japanese draft horses with and without a history of colic in the past two years under identical feeding conditions to determine if specific bacterial taxa are associated with either phenotype. A fecal bacterial community analysis was performed via sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The fecal lactate concentration was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results show a significant decrease in microbial evenness in horses with a history of colic along with an increase in Streptococcus. The fecal lactate concentration was higher in the colic group compared with the non-colic group, which may be attributed to the higher abundance of Streptococcus. Horses without a history of colic were characterized by amplicon sequence variants belonging to bacteria associated with fiber degradation, including Rikenellaceae RC9, Kiritimatiellae, and Clostridium. Overall, our results align with previous studies on equine colic epidemiology and suggest that the bacterial microbiome composition, independent of diet, may be related to the recurrence of colic.

Dexamethasone is a common drug used in equine medicine, but when administered inappropriately, it can lead to serious health complications. There is a dearth of data on horse caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dexamethasone use in Nigeria. Understanding current dexamethasone usage patterns is necessary for developing educational interventions which will then improve equine welfare. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of horse caregivers regarding dexamethasone use in Ibadan, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a total of 100 horse caregivers in Ibadan using a structured questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews were conducted so as to assess KAP regarding dexamethasone use. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted with P≤0.05 considered significant. All respondents were male, and 66% of them were aged 20–39 years. Only 46% of them demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, with 76% of them wrongly identifying dexamethasone as a painkiller rather than a steroid (6%). Attitudes (caregivers’ perceptions and willingness to follow veterinary guidance) and practices were satisfactory in 54% of respondents. Facility type significantly influenced attitudes (P=0.036), with commercial stable workers showing poorer attitudes (80% unsatisfactory). Age significantly affected practices (P=0.014), with teenagers demonstrating the worst practices (100% unsatisfactory). Frequency of veterinary consultation significantly affected both attitudes (P=0.025) and practices (P=0.007), with daily interaction showing the best outcomes. Knowledge gaps as well as inappropriate practices regarding dexamethasone use exist among horse caregivers in Ibadan, particularly concerning its classification, mechanism of action, and side effects. We recommend the implementation of educational programmes and encouragement of regular veterinary consultation amongst caregivers.