Kati Tuomola

Oral lesions in the bit area are common in horses, but not comprehensively studied in harness racing horses. This study describes the type and occurrence of oral soft tissue lesions in the area affected by the bit, hereafter called the bit area, in trotters after a race. Based on our results, we suggest a system for scoring lesions according to siz...

Equine dental diseases are often underdiagnosed and their signs inadequately reported. Many horse owners have difficulties in recognising pain-related behavioural signs and in associating them with dental pain. Our objective was to determine what type and degree of dental findings may cause behavioural signs associated with dental pain. In this cro...

The aim was to investigate differences in horse industry stakeholders’ attitudes towards bit-related oral lesions in harness racing horses. Twelve photographs of authentic oral lesions with an imaginary scenario were presented to veterinarians (n = 14) and race veterinary assistants (n = 14) (VETS, n = 28), horse trainers (TRAINERS, n = 32) and ot...

Bit-related oral lesions are a common and painful welfare issue in horses. Even though horses have been ridden and driven with a bit and bridle for 6000 years and bit sores have been described already in the 19th century in the veterinary literature, scientific reports on bit-related lesions and their risk factors in horses remain scarce. The aim...

Bit-related oral lesions are common and may impair horse welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral lesions and their risk factors in a sample of Finnish event horses. The rostral part of the oral cavity (the bit area) of 208 event horses (127 warmbloods, 52 coldbloods, and 29 ponies) was examined in a voluntary insp...

Background: Bit-related lesions in competition horses have been documented, but little evidence exists concerning their potential risk factors. Objectives: To explore potential risk factors for oral lesions in Finnish trotters. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The rostral part of the mouth of 261 horses (151 Standardbreds, 78 Fi...

SUMMARY A pregnant Standardbred mare had typical signs of tetanus: hyperesthesia, locked jaw, prolapse of the third eyelid, tachypnea, stiff gait, dysphagia, frightened look and flared nostrils. The treatment was concluded in stable and included supportive care, penicillin, tetanus antitoxin, anti-inflammatory medication and a transdermal opioid pa...