Bilateral hypoplasia of the soft palate and aryepiglottic entrapment in a horse.

The article is about a study in which a 7-year-old gelding was diagnosed with bilateral hypoplasia of the soft palate and aryepiglottic entrapment following an endoscopic examination which was prompted by weight loss in the horse.

Introduction to the Research

• This article reports on a specific case involved a 7-year-old gelding who had been experiencing weight loss.
• To determine the cause of the weight loss, an endoscopic examination was performed on the horse.

Endoscopic Examination Results

• The endoscopic examination revealed a palatal defect, which is essentially a structural problem in the palate of the horse.
• This defect was at the caudomedial margin, which is an anatomical term referring to the rearmost central area.
• Besides the defect, a noticeable tissue mass was also observed in the same area.

Diagnosis and Necropsy

• The results of the endoscopic examination then led to their diagnosis of the horse – bilateral hypoplasia of the soft palate.
• Bilateral hypoplasia of the soft palate refers to the underdevelopment or smaller size than normal of both sides of the soft palate, the soft part at the back of the roof of the mouth.
• Following the horse’s death, a necropsy – a post-mortem examination – was conducted to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause of death.
• The necropsy confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral hypoplasia of the soft palate.
• Furthermore, it determined the horse also had aryepiglottic entrapment, which is a condition where the fold of tissue in front of the cartilage flap at the base of the tongue, the epiglottis, becomes stuck or trapped, which can cause breathing problems and other related health issues in horses.