Euthanasia in horses refers to the process of humanely ending the life of a horse to alleviate suffering or when the quality of life is deemed unsustainable. This practice is considered in cases of severe illness, injury, or chronic pain where recovery is not possible. The decision-making process involves veterinarians, horse owners, and sometimes ethical and welfare considerations. Various methods are employed, with the primary aim of ensuring a painless and stress-free experience for the animal. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the ethical considerations, methods, decision-making processes, and impacts on equine welfare related to euthanasia.
Stadler P, van den Berg SS, Tustin RC.A Hansen type I cervical intervertebral disc prolapse was diagnosed in a 16-year-old American Saddler showing clinical signs of paresis and ataxia. An ante-mortem diagnosis was made by means of plain radiographs and a myelogram. The horse was euthanased and the diagnosis confirmed on a post-mortem examination.
Blanchard TL, Varner DD, Hurtgen JP, Love CC, Cummings MR, Strezmienski PJ, Benson C, Kenney RM.A Thoroughbred stallion suspected of having venereal disease was found to have an infection of the accessory sex glands. Purulent debris, blood, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were recovered from all ejaculates. Treatment with gentamicin sulfate, tobramycin, and amikacin sulfate was unsuccessful in eliminating the infection. The stallion's seminal plasma, collected during treatment with gentamicin sulfate, did not contain any appreciable antibacterial activity. Apparently, negligible amounts of gentamicin diffused across the mucosal cell borders of the accessory sex glands into the seminal plasma....
Buonanno AM, Carlson GP, Kantrowitz B.Portosystemic shunt was diagnosed in a 6-month-old Quarter Horse filly with acute onset of apparent blindness and a 3-month history of depression, lethargy, and ataxia. Clinicopathologic test results indicated slightly high gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and serum total bilirubin concentration. Sulfobromophthalein half time was prolonged, and plasma ammonia and serum bile acid concentrations were high as well. Histopathologic findings of percutaneous liver biopsy included widespread hepatocyte atrophy and numerous prominent small arterioles in the area of the portal triad. On the basis...
Dean PW, Robertson JT.A urachal remnant, causing pollakiuria and dysuria, was diagnosed by rectal palpation of a urinary bladder adhesion and endoscopic visualization of a urinary bladder diverticulum. Surgical excision of the remnant resulted in relief of abnormal micturition, but the filly was euthanatized 9 months after surgery because of a chronic ventral midline incisional infection. Pollakiuria and dysuria associated with urachal abscessation occur most commonly in calves. This report documents the syndrome in a horse.
McCarthy RN, Hutchins DR.A retrospective analysis of 74 cases that underwent surgery for colic was undertaken to determine short and long term survival rates and the incidence of post-operative complications. In 28 cases colic was related to small intestinal lesions and in 46 cases to large intestinal lesions. Pre-operative packed cell volume and heart rate were found to be inversely related to short-term survival. Twenty-five horses (34%) recovered from surgery and were discharged. Of 18 of these cases with available histories, 6 subsequently had one or more episodes of colic since surgery of which 5 eventually died ...
Markel MD, Dreyfuss DJ, Meagher DM.A study was designed to evaluate 2 colopexy techniques (A and B) in 8 clinically normal horses to determine which technique would prevent recurrence of large-colon displacement and/or volvulus. For technique A, 35 cm of the lateral free band of the left ventral colon was sutured to the abdominal wall, 6 cm to the left of ventral midline. For technique B, the medial free band of the left ventral colon was sutured to the medial free band of the right ventral colon, and 8 cm of the lateral free band of the left ventral colon was sutured to the abdominal wall, 6 cm to the left of ventral midline. ...
Murray MJ, Ball MM, Parker GA.A 3-month-old foal with a history of persistent fever and leukocytosis was found to have pneumonia, ulceration of the squamous portion of the stomach, and dilatation of the distal portion of the esophagus. The foal was euthanatized and necropsied. The distal portion of the esophagus was severely dilated, and there was severe ulceration and mural thickening of the stomach at the cardia. Because of the severe gastric ulceration and mural thickening, the gastroesophageal junction was fixed in an open position, permitting gastroesophageal reflux. The megaesophagus and pneumonia were considered to ...
Morris CF, Robertson JL, Mann PC, Clark S, Divers TJ.A syndrome characterized clinically by oliguria, progressive severe azotemia, and edema of the abdomen and groin was seen in 2 horses. Treatment with fluids, diuretics, and corticosteroids administered intravenously was ineffective, and the horses were euthanatized. Microscopically, there was severe necrotizing angiopathy with profuse fibrin deposition in renal glomeruli and sinusoids of peripheral lymph nodes. The signs observed in the horses resembled hemolytic-uremic syndrome in human beings.
MacDonald MH, Richardson DW, Morse CC.A 23-year-old Thoroughbred stallion was admitted to the hospital for treatment of acute esophageal obstruction. Clinical examination and contrast radiography confirmed the presence of an esophageal obstruction. The horse was euthanatized, and examination revealed a bolus of feed material occluding the esophageal lumen 6 cm caudal to the thoracic inlet, with underlying necrosis of the esophageal mucosa. A large pulsion diverticulum was identified in the caudocervical portion of the esophagus. Apparently, the phytobezoar was formed within the esophageal diverticulum and subsequently became dislo...
Sweeney CR, Whitlock RH, Meirs DA, Whitehead SC, Barningham SO.Complications associated with Streptococcus equi infection developed in 15 (20.3%) of 74 horses on one farm included death, guttural pouch empyema, purpura hemorrhagica, upper respiratory tract obstruction, pneumonia, pleuropneumonia, agalactia, mesenteric lymph node abscessation, and periorbital abscessation. Death was attributed to pneumonia in 3 horses and to upper respiratory tract obstruction in 2 horses. One horse was euthanatized because of severe purpura hemorrhagica.
Parker JE, Fibini SL, Car BD, Erb HN.An ischemic bowel model was used to stimulate adhesion formation in eight ponies. Heparin (40 USP u/kg) or saline was administered intravenously at surgery and was continued subcutaneously every 12 hours for 48 hours to evaluate the efficacy of heparin in preventing intraabdominal adhesions. Ponies were euthanatized after 6 weeks, and postmortem examinations were performed. A statistically significant difference was found between the heparin-treated and the control groups. Adhesions developed in three of four control ponies, and adhesions did not develop in three of four heparin-treated ponies...
Boyd JS.A radio-opaque marker was injected intramuscularly at different levels and with needles of different lengths into the cervical musculature of a series of ponies and horses which were under profound anaesthesia prior to euthanasia. Subsequently the necks were sectioned and radiographed to determine the fate of the injected material. The results indicated that care was necessary in the selection of the level for injection in order to prevent deposition of material on to the periosteal surface of the cervical vertebrae or on to the ligamentum nuchae and fascial sheaths. The muscle mass over the t...
MacAllister C, Qualls C, Tyler R, Root CR.Multiple myeloma was diagnosed in a horse on the basis of clinical signs, protein electrophoresis pattern, Bence-Jones proteinuria, and radiographic changes in bone. The horse had mild depression, weight loss, edema of the distal portion of the left hind limb, anemia, hyperproteinemia, and monoclonal gammopathy in the beta 2 region. Radiographically, punctate cortical lysis of bone was seen. Specific treatment for the multiple myeloma was not attempted and the horse was euthanatized.
Harvey KA, Morris DD, Saik JE, Donawick WJ.A 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare had a 2-week history of weight loss and intermittent fever. Examination of abdominal and pleural fluid revealed peritonitis and pleuritis. Ultrasonography of the ventral abdominal midline revealed an intra-abdominal mass. Exploratory celiotomy was performed, but the mass was not surgically excisable. The mare was euthanatized and necropsied. Histologically, the mass was determined to be a fibrosarcoma of omental origin.
Munson L.A 17-year-old Quarter Horse mare developed rapidly progressive, bilateral, firm enlargements of both mammary glands, ventral abdominal edema, dyspnea, and neurologic signs. The horse was euthanatized, and a carcinoma of the mammary gland was diagnosed at necropsy. Microscopically, normal glandular parenchyma was replaced by neoplastic nodules, and the tumor had metastasized to most visceral organs and throughout the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems. The tumor had a solid pattern, with microglandular differentiation, and numerous syncytial sheets.
Sullins KE, McIlwraith CW.Transverse or oblique midshaft tibial osteotomies were created in 11 foals. The osteotomies were repaired during the same procedure using external skeletal fixation in either full splint or 3-dimensional (3-D) tent configurations. Four of the six foals receiving the full splint fixator recovered to full soundness; two were euthanized because of complications. The foals receiving the 3-D tent configuration would not bear weight on the limbs and consequently suffered significant secondary fracture disease. These foals were euthanized for humane reasons before the scheduled termination of the pro...
Minnick PD, Brown CM, Braselton WE, Meerdink GL, Slanker MR.An aqueous extract of the heartwood of black walnut (Juglans nigra) was given via stomach tube to 10 horses. Eight developed Obel grade 3 or 4 laminitis within 12 hr. Limb edema and mild sedation were the only other clinical signs observed. One horse was euthanized due to severe signs. The other 7 recovered within 6 days. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of aqueous extracts of heartwood, bark and nuts of black walnut identified juglone in the bark and nuts, but not in the heartwood. It was concluded that the aqueous extract of heartwood is laminogenic to horses, but the active ingredient i...
DiPietro JA, Lock TF, Todd KS, Reuter VE.Twenty ponies less than 18 months of age and infected with Parascaris equorum were treated with either 0.2 mg of ivermectin/kg of body weight (n = 10) or a placebo (n = 10; controls). Five control and 5 ivermectin-treated ponies were euthanatized 14 and 35 days after treatment, respectively. At necropsy, the small intestinal contents, lungs, and liver were examined for larvae and/or adult P equorum. Significantly (P less than 0.02) higher mean total numbers of P equorum were found in the small intestinal contents of the controls on day 14 (51) and on day 35 (21) than in the ivermectin-treated ...
Arighi M, Ducharme NG, Horney FD, Livesey MA.Extensive resection (50-75%) of the large colon was performed in 12 horses. Indications for resection were: loss of viability due to large colon volvulus (seven), thromboembolic episode (three), impairment of flow of ingesta due to adhesions (one), or congenital abnormalities (one). The time required to correct the primary cause of abdominal pain and complete the resection ranged from 2.5 to 4.75 hours. Three horses had severe musculoskeletal problems postoperatively and were euthanized in the recovery stall. Four other horses were euthanized early in the postoperative period because of: furth...
Bertone AL, McIlwraith CW, Jones RL, Norrdin RW, Radin MJ.Both tarsocrural joints of 4 horses were inoculated with 1.5 X 10(5) colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus. On days 1, 3, and 6, each horse had one tarsocrural joint lavaged with a balanced electrolyte solution and had the contralateral tarsocrural joint lavaged with 0.1% povidone-iodine solution. All horses were orally administered trimethoprim (5 mg/kg)/sufadiazine (25 mg/kg) combination twice daily and phenylbutazone (2 g) once daily for the duration of the study (21 days). On days 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 14, and 21, synovial fluid specimens were collected and analyzed for color, clarity, to...
Clark ES, Morris DD, Whitlock RH.A 6-month-old Thoroughbred colt was examined because of persistent dysphagia noted since birth. Moderately severe regurgitation occurred when the colt ate semi-solid food or drank. Complete esophageal impaction developed when the colt ate solid material. Endoscopic examination revealed ulceration, dilatation and lack of peristalsis in the area of the previous impaction. Barium esophagram demonstrated the dilatation in the area of the previous impaction. Esophageal manometry revealed prolonged simultaneous contractions throughout the esophagus suggesting the presence of a motor abnormality. The...
Weaver AD.The case records of 13 horses with acquired incarcerated inguinal hernia in January-August 1983, were reviewed. Nine cases were in stallions. The remaining four involved eventration 5-48 hours following castration. Ages ranged from 1-17 years. Horses showed a variable degree of colic. Bowel was felt to pass through the internal inguinal ring on rectal examination in most cases. The physical features of the scrotum varied considerably. Resection of ischemic jejunum and/or ileum was necessary in three horses. Two horses were euthanized at surgery (one with bilateral ischemic jejunum, one with bo...
Markel MD, Pascoe JR, Sams AE.The medical records of 13 horses with strangulated umbilical hernias were reviewed. Typical history included increased swelling, warmth, and firmness of the hernial sac. Enterocutaneous fistulas had developed in 2 horses. Four horses had signs of abdominal pain. Surgery was performed on all horses, and the hernia was reduced by an open reduction technique. Incarcerated tissue included omentum (1 horse), jejunum (5), ileum (4), cecum (1), and ventral colon (2). All horses survived and were discharged from the hospital. Follow-up information on 9 horses (5 to 52 months after discharge) revealed ...
Greet TR.The case histories of three young thoroughbred racehorses with displaced lateral condylar fractures combined with an axial fracture of the lateral sesamoid bone are described. In two cases the condylar fracture was repaired surgically but both horses developed severe degenerative joint disease and remained lame. The third horse was destroyed humanely. It is important that axial fractures of the sesamoid bone are recognised so that a poorer prognosis can be given for treatment of condylar fractures in racing thoroughbreds.
Poss M, Young S.A 4-year-old horse was evaluated at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for rapidly progressing cerebellar disease. Euthanasia was elected and at postmortem examination a proliferative mass encompassing the right side of the cerebellum was discovered. The lesion was characterized by large, convoluted, vascular folia and absence of the core of central white matter. Histologically, there was a diminution or loss of the internal granule cell layer, cavitation of the central white matter, and absence of Purkinje cells. The molecular layer was thickened with myelinated axons ...
Ducharme NG, Burton JH, van Dreumel AA, Horney FD, Baird JD, Arighi M.The nutritional implications and adaptive processes resulting from resection of 75% of the length of the large colon in ponies were investigated. Ten ponies in good physical condition were divided into two groups: six in the experimental group and four in the control group. During the sixth postoperative month, two digestibility studies were conducted, and phosphate fractional renal excretion and serum biochemical profiles were determined in both groups. The ponies (N = 10) were euthanized six months postoperatively, and gross and histopathological examinations were performed. Results of the s...
Markel MD, Wheat JD, Jang SS.Nine Thoroughbred racehorses were admitted with cellulitis (of one or more limbs) associated with coagulase-positive staphylococci. The right hindlimb was affected in 4 horses, the right forelimb in 2, the left hindlimb in 1, and both hindlimbs in 2. Typical abnormalities included high values for rectal temperature (9 horses) and heart rate (5 horses), hyperfibrinogenemia (7 horses), leukocytosis (7 horses), and neutrophilia (6 horses). The staphylococcal isolants were speciated in 3 horses and classified as Staphylococcus aureus. Complications included skin loss (5 horses), laminitis of the a...
Roby KA, Reef VB, Shaw DP, Sweeney CR.A 15-year-old, Standardbred broodmare with an aortic sinus aneurysm developed rupture of the aneurysm with subsequent rupture of a tricuspid valve chorda tendinae, tricuspid regurgitation, acute right-sided congestive heart failure, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Shunting of blood from the aorta through the ruptured aneurysm into the right ventricle resulted in decreased renal perfusion and acute renal failure. Initially, treatment of the mare with analgesics, fluids, and digoxin resulted in clinical improvement, but the mare's condition deteriorated after 8 days and the mare was euthanatized ...
Bello TR.Antiparasitic efficacy of ivermectin against migrating Gasterophilus intestinalis was evaluated in 36 treated and 24 nontreated (n = 12) or vehicle-treated (n = 12) ponies experimentally and naturally infected with G intestinalis and naturally infected with G nasalis. Each pony was experimentally infected with 500 G intestinalis 1st instars in 2 divided doses on days -14 and -7 before treatment. On day 0, ivermectin was administered at the rate of 200 micrograms/kg of body weight by IV (n = 12) or IM injection (n = 12) or given as an oral paste (n = 12). Ponies were euthanatized and necropsied...
Bauck AG, Nelson E, McLain A, Cock G, Sanchez LC, Freeman DE.To describe a modified celiotomy to improve access to cranial abdominal structures in horses. Methods: Four horses. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Three horses with gastric impactions were treated with gastrotomies. One horse was treated for a diaphragmatic hernia with herniorrhaphy and mesh augmentation. In all horses, the ventral midline celiotomy was modified cranially with a J-incision through the body wall, along the paracostal arch. Results: The only surgical complications were midline incisional infections in all horses. Three of the four horses had good long-term outcomes; the re...
Schürmann C, Loose M, Failing K, Wehrend A.The aim of this study was to analyze data concerning history, clinical course, and prognosis of retained fetal membranes in mares. Methods: Patient records of 121 hospitalized mares with retained placenta were evaluated. In 82 cases, additional blood examinations were performed and analyzed. Results: There was no significant correlation between age, parity or course of parturition and retained placenta. Eighty-one mares (66.9 %) were presented solely with retained fetal membranes, 40 mares (33.1 %) had additional diseases at presentation, most commonly injuries of the labia, followed by perine...
Vaughan B, Whitcomb MB, Puchalski SM, Poulin-Braim AE, Nieto JE, Galuppo LD.Thromboses of the cranial tibial vein (Horse 1) and brachial, median, and cranial circumflex humeral arteries (Horse 2) were identified as causes of unilateral lameness in two Thoroughbred racehorses. Nuclear scintigraphy was performed for suspicion of long bone stress fractures but instead allowed identification of unusual areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake within soft tissues of the affected limbs. Ultrasonography of these regions allowed identification of occlusive thrombi within a 25 cm length of the cranial tibial vein (Horse 1) and variable lengths of affected arteries in Hors...
Louie EW, Streeter R, Story M, Scrivani PV, Barrett M, Mullen KR.A neonatal Dutch Warmblood colt was evaluated for inability to stand, incoordination and intention tremor. Despite partial improvement in clinical signs during the first 4 days of hospitalization, neurological deficits remained. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a unilateral infratentorial arachnoid cyst-like lesion with ipsilateral compression and displacement of the cerebellar hemisphere, absent corpus collosum, polymicrogyria, suspect leukoencephalopathy, and noncompressive occipitoatlantal malformation. Improvement in clinical signs during the first 6 months of life suggests that ho...
Koenig JB, Silveira A, Cribb NC, Piat P, Laverty S, Sorge US.The main objective of this retrospective study was to describe clinical findings, management, and short- and long-term outcome in 27 horses that underwent various surgical techniques for esophageal disease. Surgical techniques (sometimes concurrently) performed were: esophagostomy ( = 14), esophagotomy with primary closure ( = 6), esophagomyotomy ( = 3), and esophagoplasty ( = 2). Esophageal perforation in 5 horses was treated by ventral drainage; 3 horses had the esophageal defect sutured ( = 3). Feeding tubes were placed in 15 horses. Postoperative complications occurred in 52% (14/27) with ...
Baum B, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Wohlsein P.A 10-year-old Knabstrupper stallion was euthanatized because of severe dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Postmortem examination revealed diffuse severe alveolar emphysema and chronic fibrosing pleuritis of the caudal lung. Parts of both caudal lung lobes were covered with multiple raised firm gray to yellow plaques. Histologically, these areas consisted of circumscribed pleural fibroses and cysts of metaplastic keratinizing squamous epithelium. Immunohistochemistry revealed intense labeling for cytokeratins 5/6 and 10. In addition, caudal lung lobes were severely affected by a chronic partiall...
Martin-Pelaez S, Rabow Z, de la Fuente A, Draheim P, Loynachan A, Fiehn O, Meyers S, Lyman C, Dini P.Postmortem and pre-euthanasia oocyte retrieval provides the last opportunity to preserve the genetic material in mares. Pentobarbital (PB) is the most common euthanasia agent; however, its effect on the developmental competence of oocytes has not been determined. Here, we evaluated the concentration of PB in equine follicular fluid (FF) and investigated its effect on the developmental competence of oocytes using a bovine IVF model to overcome the low availability of equine oocytes. The concentration of PB was measured by gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry in FF collected from mare ovaries im...
Cullimore AM, Lester GD, Secombe CJ, Campbell K.A 7-year-old Clydesdale gelding was referred with a history of progressive lethargy and ventral oedema. The horse developed diarrhoea after treatment with antibiotics by the referring veterinarian. History, clinical signs, imaging and laboratory findings were consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy complicated by antibiotic-associated colitis. Progression of clinical signs prompted euthanasia and the antemortem diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was confirmed at postmortem examination. Conclusions: Primary HCM is reported as rare in horses, but specific descriptions are lacking. The ...
Polikepahad S, Haque M, Francis J, Moore RM, Venugopal CS.The purpose of the study was to determine and compare the expression of endothelin (ET) receptors in the peripheral lungs of healthy horses and those affected with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical techniques. Two groups of horses (7 healthy and 7 RAO-affected) were selected from a pool of horses destined for euthanasia. The grouping of horses was based on the history, clinical scoring, and pulmonary function testing. After euthanasia, gross postmortem evaluation of th...
Shibahara T, Kuwano A, Ueno T, Anzai T, Kuwamoto Y, Sato H, Maeda T, Ishikawa Y, Kadota K.A 21-month-old Thoroughbred colt showed continuous diarrhea and developmental retardation for 7 months, and was thereafter subjected to euthanasia for necropsy and laboratory examinations. At necropsy, the cecal and colonic mucosae were diffusely rough and hyperemic. Histopathologically, the mucosa and submucosa were edematous and were infiltrated by numerous lymphocytes and macrophages. Meanwhile, three morphological types of Brachyspira antigen-containing spirochetes were found to be numerous in the crypts and in the mucus layer over the epithelium in the cecal and colonic lesions. They were...
Blikslager AT, Bristol DG, Bowman KF, Engelbert TA.To determine the feasibility of performing a single-incision loop colostomy for treatment of grade-3 rectal tears in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Seven adult horses with grade-3 rectal tears. Methods: A single-incision loop colostomy was performed with horses under general anesthesia (n = 6) or while restrained in standing stocks (n = 1). The rectal tear was lavaged via an endoscope. The colostomy was resected after the rectal tear healed. Results: Rectal tears ranged from 4 to 10 cm in diameter and were > 25 cm proximal to the anus. All horses survived colostomy surger...
Newton-Clarke MJ, Divers TJ, Valentine BA.A study was conducted over a 12 month period to assess the accuracy of the 'slap test' in the diagnosis of laryngeal adductor myopathy. The thoraco-laryngeal reflexes of 15 horses with no clinical signs of idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH) were recorded using a video-endoscope. These 'slap test' responses were examined independently by 3 assessors. The horses were subsequently subjected to euthanasia and samples taken from the cricoarytenoideus lateralis (CAL) muscles for histopathological examination and assessment of denervation atrophy. Despite normal adductory responses, moderate to se...
Powell RJ, du Toit N, Burden FA, Dixon PM.There is limited information on the gross tracheal morphology of donkeys with or without tracheal abnormalities. Objective: To: 1) examine the morphology of tracheas of donkeys with and without clinical and/or post mortem evidence of tracheal obstruction; 2) record the cross-sectional dimensions and shapes of tracheal rings at fixed sites; and 3) document prevalence, sites and characteristics of detected tracheal abnormalities. Methods: The tracheas of 75, predominantly aged (median age 30 years, range 7-48 years) donkeys that died or were subjected to euthanasia on humane grounds were examine...
Finley MR, Rebhun WC, Dee A, Langsetmo I.An 8-year-old castrated male Paint Horse was referred because of generalized pruritus, alopecia, and intermittent fever. Results of gross evaluation of the skin and microscopic evaluation of skin scrapings were inconclusive. Histologic examination of skin biopsy specimens revealed vasculitis. The horse had persistent hypercalcemia; therefore, lymphosarcoma was considered a possibility. Ultrasonography revealed hypoechoic nodules within the parenchyma of the spleen and liver. Results of microscopic evaluation of an aspirate from a splenic nodule were suggestive of lymphosarcoma. The condition o...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Schipper FC, Goehring LS, Gremmels JF.In the course of several days most of the 40 riding-school horses turned out in paddocks developed ataxia of variable severity. Five of these horses showed severe ataxia and tremors, became paralyzed and were euthanized. Eleven privately-owned horses which were stabled on the same premises showed no clinical signs. The most likely diagnosis seemed to be the 'neurological form of EHV1', although the signs were not entirely typical. A few weeks later a second outbreak occurred among the riding-school horses and one of the privately-owned horses also showed signs of ataxia. In the meantime it had...
Loinaz RJ, Boutros CP, Rakestraw PC, Taylor TS.To report a laryngotomy approach for the removal of the nasal septum in adult horses. Methods: Descriptive study. Methods: Horses (n = 10). Methods: Near-total resection of the nasal septum was made using a modification of a previously reported 3-wire technique using a trephination approach and a 2-wire technique using a laryngotomy approach. Surgical time, ease of technique, complications, and outcome were recorded. At 45 days, horses were euthanatized and septal measurements made. Results: Near-total resection of the nasal septum was accomplished with both techniques without complications. I...
Freeman DE, Richardson DW, Tulleners EP, Orsini JA, Donawick WJ, Madison JB, Ross MW, Beroza GA.Loop colostomy was performed in 10 horses as treatment for grade-III rectal tears (n = 6 horses), small-colon infarction (n = 2 horses), perirectal abscess and stenosis (n = 1 horse), and small-colon stricture (n = 1 horse). In 7 horses, the colostomy was constructed through a single incision low in the left flank, with closure of the incision around the stoma (single-incision technique). In 3 horses, 2 of which had colostomy performed as a standing procedure, the selected segment of small colon was placed from a flank incision into a separate, small incision low in the left flank (double-inci...
Kraus BM, Richardson DW, Nunamaker DM, Ross MW.To report the outcome of surgical treatment of comminuted fractures of the proximal phalanx in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 64 horses. Methods: Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to obtain information regarding signalment, fracture classification, and treatment. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone conversation or evaluation of production records. Results: Thirty-eight horses had moderately comminuted fractures of the proximal phalanx. Two horses were euthanatized immediately. Fractures of the proximal phalanx in 36 horses were repaired with open reducti...
Swor TM, Watkins JP, Bahr A, Honnas CM.Previous olecranon fracture reports contain a small proportion of type 1b fractures, with only a few repaired by tension band plate fixation. Objective: To evaluate subject details, history, clinical findings and outcome of type 1b olecranon fractures in a large group of horses treated by tension band plate fixation. Methods: Medical records of 77 horses diagnosed with an olecranon fracture were reviewed. Twenty-four horses (31%) were classified as having type 1b olecranon fractures. Clinical details and follow-up results (4-128 months post operatively) were recorded. Results: Treatment includ...
Van Hoogmoed L, Snyder JR.Four horses were evaluated for clinical signs consistent with small intestinal disease. During exploratory surgery, primary hematomas in the mesentery were found in 2 horses. The third horse developed a hematoma secondary to a mesenteric rent, whereas in the fourth horse, a hematoma developed secondary to strangulation of the bowel by a mesenteric lipoma. Two horses were euthanatized at surgery, because the extensive nature of the hematoma precluded ligation and there was substantial risk of continued hemorrhage postoperatively. The remaining horses recovered from surgery but developed complic...
Harvey KA, Morris DD, Saik JE, Donawick WJ.A 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare had a 2-week history of weight loss and intermittent fever. Examination of abdominal and pleural fluid revealed peritonitis and pleuritis. Ultrasonography of the ventral abdominal midline revealed an intra-abdominal mass. Exploratory celiotomy was performed, but the mass was not surgically excisable. The mare was euthanatized and necropsied. Histologically, the mass was determined to be a fibrosarcoma of omental origin.
Lawn K.During training, a 6-year-old standardbred gelding collapsed, exhibiting severe epistaxis and agonal breathing and was euthanized. The horse had a recent history of poor performance, lethargy, and unilateral eyelid swelling with serous ocular discharge. Postmortem and histopathologic examination findings revealed thoracic lymphosarcoma and concurrent exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Résumé — Mort subite d’un cheval de course de race standardbred causée par un lymphome thoracique. En cours d’entraînement, un standardbred hongre âgé de 6 ans s’est effondré, présentant des s...
Schneider RK, Mayhew IG, Clarke GL.The duration of anesthetic effect and the histopathologic changes resulting from a controlled freeze of the palmar and plantar digital nerves in the horse were evaluated. Two techniques were compared: (i) nerves were frozen by direct application of the cryoprobe after surgical exposure and (ii) nerves were frozen by percutaneous application of the cryoprobe to the overlying skin. Return of skin sensation and ability to detect a stimulus were used to determine return of nerve function. The duration of anesthetic effect was significantly (P less than 0.005) longer for nerves frozen after surgica...
Murray MJ, Ball MM, Parker GA.A 3-month-old foal with a history of persistent fever and leukocytosis was found to have pneumonia, ulceration of the squamous portion of the stomach, and dilatation of the distal portion of the esophagus. The foal was euthanatized and necropsied. The distal portion of the esophagus was severely dilated, and there was severe ulceration and mural thickening of the stomach at the cardia. Because of the severe gastric ulceration and mural thickening, the gastroesophageal junction was fixed in an open position, permitting gastroesophageal reflux. The megaesophagus and pneumonia were considered to ...
Honnas CM, Crabill MR, Mackie JT, Yarbrough TB, Schumacher J.Six horses with septic navicular bursitis or distal sesamoid osteomyelitis were treated by means of surgical debridement and lavage, followed by packing of the wound created in the bottom of the foot with an autogenous cancellous bone graft. Two horses were euthanatized, one 18 months after surgery because of complications in the contralateral support limb, and one 68 days after surgery because of continuing severe lameness. Four horses were alive 9, 16, 21, and 42 months after surgery. One horse was used as a broodmare and did not have observable lameness. Two horses were being ridden. The re...
Graubner C, Gerber V, Imhasly A, Gorgas D, Koch C.Three horses (age 17 - 23 years) were referred to the equine clinic of the University of Berne due to colic, fever, tachycardia and tachypnea. All horses showed pleural effusion. Clinical findings in 2 of the horses were highly suggestive of an intra-thoracic esophageal perforation. Severe septic pleuropneumonia without suspicion of an esophageal lesion was diagnosed in the 3rd horse. In addition, an 11 year old stallion was referred to the equine clinic for treatment of a presumptive large colon impaction. The horse was given laxatives after nasogastric intubation. Subsequent dramatic clinica...
Erkert RS, Crowson CL, Moll HD, Bentz BG, Confer AW, Blaik MA.A 4-year-old Thoroughbred stallion was referred for signs of mild to moderate colic, anorexia, and decreased water intake of 3 weeks' duration. Ultrasonographic examination revealed an intussusception, the most common of which would be a cecal inversion or ileocecal intussusception. Surgical exploration identified an ileocecocolic intussusception with extension of the intussusceptum into the right ventral colon; however, the cause of the intussusception could not be identified. The intussusception could not be surgically corrected, and the horse was euthanatized. A side-to-side jejunocecostomy...
Nation PN, Klavano GG.This account describes two neonatal foals affected with osteopetrosis. One of these foals, a full term Peruvian Paso, was born alive, was bright and alert but was unable to stand and was euthanized at two days of age. The second foal, an Appaloosa, was also born alive at full term and was blind, weak, uncoordinated and unable to stand. Postmortem examination of both foals revealed generalized osteopetrosis and brachygnathia inferior. The osteopetrosis was characterized by failure of bone remodelling resulting in spicules of mineralized and nonmineralized cartilage covered by osteoid occupying ...
Mello GW, Riet-Correa F, Batista MC, Carvalho CJ, Dias AC, Franklin FL, Silva SM, Dias A.Farmers in the State of Piauí in northeastern Brazil reported nervous signs in ruminants and donkeys after ingestion of Brunfelsia uniflora at the start of the rainy season when the plant is flowering. Leaves of the plant, collected at the start or at the end of the rainy season, were administered in single doses of 5-20 g/kg body weight to 8 sheep and 3 donkeys. Two sheep and 1 donkey that ingested 10 g/kg of the plant in November at the start of the rainy season, when the plant was flowering, developed severe convulsions and diarrhea. One sheep was euthanized and autopsied, and no significa...
