Management of Hospitalized Equine Patients
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The training course aims to provide knowledge and practical skills for the management of hospitalized equine patients. The activities, on patients affected by medical, surgical and reproductive problems, will be an opportunity to apply simple and advanced procedures, perform diagnostic exams, set up and monitor treatment protocols, as well as assist newborn foals. Fundamental information regarding biosafety, nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistance will also be provided. In addition, basic principles of nutrition, including enteral and parenteral nutrition will be provided. Particular attention will also be paid to ensure wellbeing of equine inpatients.
Expected learning outcomes
The student, applying the knowledge acquired, will be guided to evaluate a clinical case, choose the appropriate diagnostic tests, apply them, and plan the correct treatment. During the morning round, each student will be invited to present the clinical case assigned, thus exercising their communication skills. The student must demonstrate the achievement of methodology, knowledge and capacity for independent judgement, also consulting the most recent literature and applying the principles of evidence-based veterinary medicine
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Assessment methods and Criteria
The learning assessment by means of monitoring the student during the activities, and the evaluation of his/her ability to apply knowledge and understanding, to use independent judgement, to communicate, and to learn. The progress and improvements achieved will be noted and compared with the skills demonstrated at the beginning of the course.
Internal medicine
Course syllabus
Main respiratory diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Main cardiovascular diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Main liver diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Main urinary diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Main neurological diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Analysis of hospitalized case studies, definition of medical pathologies, laboratory and diagnostic imaging, treatment planning and monitoring, prognostic assessments (22 hours)
Main cardiovascular diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Main liver diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Main urinary diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Main neurological diseases, monitoring and treatment (2 hours)
Analysis of hospitalized case studies, definition of medical pathologies, laboratory and diagnostic imaging, treatment planning and monitoring, prognostic assessments (22 hours)
Teaching methods
The module takes place in the Equine Department and includes practical teaching activities on hospitalized patients.
Teaching Resources
The reference material will provided by the instructor in the form of slides and scientific papers.
Surgery
Course syllabus
- Main orthopedic pathologies, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis (2 hours);
- Main gastroenteric pathologies, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and prognosis (2 hours);
- Main wound-related lesions, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and prognosis (2 hours);
- Biosafety of the clinic and personnel in an equine hospital (2 hours);
- Analysis of hospitalized case studies, definition of surgical pathologies, sedation and analgesia, imaging and laboratory diagnostics, treatment planning, monitoring, and prognostic assessments (8 hours).
- Main gastroenteric pathologies, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and prognosis (2 hours);
- Main wound-related lesions, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and prognosis (2 hours);
- Biosafety of the clinic and personnel in an equine hospital (2 hours);
- Analysis of hospitalized case studies, definition of surgical pathologies, sedation and analgesia, imaging and laboratory diagnostics, treatment planning, monitoring, and prognostic assessments (8 hours).
Teaching methods
The module takes place in the Equine Department, utilizing the classrooms of the hospital for briefing/debriefing activities as needed. Practical activities will be based on the hospitalized clinical cases and will be conducted in the Equine and Diagnostic Imaging departments of the University Veterinary Hospital.
Teaching Resources
The reference material will be provided by the instructor in the form of slides and reference articles. Additionally, databases containing cases from the veterinary teaching hospital will be utilized.
Perinatology
Course syllabus
Evaluation of the mare at the end of pregnancy and of the foal at birth (3 hours)
- Management of orphans and premature newborns (3 hours)
- Diagnosis and therapy of passive transfer failure (2 hours)
- Main neonatal pathologies: septicemia, umbilical and joint diseases (4 hours)
- Visit to a clinic with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (8 hours)
- Management of clinical cases (12 hours)
- Management of orphans and premature newborns (3 hours)
- Diagnosis and therapy of passive transfer failure (2 hours)
- Main neonatal pathologies: septicemia, umbilical and joint diseases (4 hours)
- Visit to a clinic with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (8 hours)
- Management of clinical cases (12 hours)
Teaching methods
- Seminars focusing on specific topics with clinical case examples
- Practical exercises based on the clinical cases
- Visit to an equine clinic specialized in neonatal intensive care (NICU)
- Practical exercises based on the clinical cases
- Visit to an equine clinic specialized in neonatal intensive care (NICU)
Teaching Resources
PPT presentations provided by the teacher
Book: Veronesi MC, Castagnetti C, Taverne MAM. Neonatologia Veterinaria. Edises, 2013
Book: Veronesi MC, Castagnetti C, Taverne MAM. Neonatologia Veterinaria. Edises, 2013
Nutrition
Course syllabus
Principles of equine nutrition (3 hours)
Examples of calculating nutritional needs (3 hours)
Principles of equine nutrition referred to to the main nutritional pathologies (5 hours)
Equine enteral nutrition (1 hour)
Equine parenteral nutrition (2 hour)
Analytical approach of hospitalized case studies, definition of nutritional objectives, intervention methods (2 hours)
Examples of calculating nutritional needs (3 hours)
Principles of equine nutrition referred to to the main nutritional pathologies (5 hours)
Equine enteral nutrition (1 hour)
Equine parenteral nutrition (2 hour)
Analytical approach of hospitalized case studies, definition of nutritional objectives, intervention methods (2 hours)
Teaching methods
The module includes practical activities of data collection and analysis of hospitalized clinical cases, discussion of the objectives to be pursued and nutritional strategies that can be adopted to deal with the encountered problems, allowing the recovery of the subjects and guaranteeing greater conditions of well-being in the field of nutrition.
Teaching Resources
The study material will be made available by the teacher as slides and reference articles.
Drug management in the hospitalised equine patient and principles of prudent use of antimicrobials
Course syllabus
- Clinical pharmacology of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems (2 hours)
- Clinical pharmacology of the gastrointestinal system (2 hours)
- Clinical pharmacology of the musculoskeletal system (2 hours)
- Clinical pharmacology of the nervous system (2 hours)
- Practical aspects of regulations concerning the management of medications stock (2 hours)
- Analysis of the pharmacological approach to medical issues in hospitalized case studies, including discussion of tools for monitoring drug therapeutic efficacy, with a focus on antimicrobial agents (6 hours)
- Clinical pharmacology of the gastrointestinal system (2 hours)
- Clinical pharmacology of the musculoskeletal system (2 hours)
- Clinical pharmacology of the nervous system (2 hours)
- Practical aspects of regulations concerning the management of medications stock (2 hours)
- Analysis of the pharmacological approach to medical issues in hospitalized case studies, including discussion of tools for monitoring drug therapeutic efficacy, with a focus on antimicrobial agents (6 hours)
Teaching methods
- Seminars focusing on specific topics with clinical case examples
- Practical exercises based on the clinical cases
- Practical exercises based on the clinical cases
Teaching Resources
The teaching materials will be provided by the teacher in the form of slides, scientific papers, and current regulations related to the topics covered.
Welfare
Course syllabus
Behavioral observation techniques (2 hours)
Recognition of signs of anxiety, fear, stress and pain (6 hours)
Management of equine patient for transport (1 hour)
Fear-free hospital environment (2 hours)
Fear-free restraint techniques (4 hours)
Owner compliance (1 hour)
Recognition of signs of anxiety, fear, stress and pain (6 hours)
Management of equine patient for transport (1 hour)
Fear-free hospital environment (2 hours)
Fear-free restraint techniques (4 hours)
Owner compliance (1 hour)
Teaching methods
The course will take place at the University Veterinary Hospital and it will involve practical activities to learn how to train and manage the equine patient minimizing fear and stress, and ensuring a better experience for all the parties involved.
Teaching Resources
Training material will be made available by the lecturer as presentations (slides) and scientific papers
Modules or teaching units
Drug management in the hospitalised equine patient and principles of prudent use of antimicrobials
VET/07 - VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Professor:
Di Cesare Federica
Internal medicine
VET/08 - VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE - University credits: 2
Practicals: 32 hours
Professor:
Zucca Enrica
Nutrition
AGR/18 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Professor:
Agazzi Alessandro
Perinatology
VET/10 - VETERINARY CLINICAL OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY - University credits: 2
Practicals: 32 hours
Professor:
Probo Monica
Surgery
VET/09 - VETERINARY CLINICAL SURGERY - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Professor:
Ravasio Giuliano
Welfare
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Professor:
Dalla Costa Emanuela
Professor(s)
Reception:
11:30-13:00
Lodi
Reception:
Friday 9-13
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences
Reception:
10 a.m. - 11,30 am. Every Wednesday
Ufficio-Settore didattico Palazzina Studi, I piano, Lodi (Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria)