Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate Secondary to Persistent Frenulum of the Epiglottis in Neonatal Foal.

This study reports on a rare case of a newborn horse (foal) that displayed unusual symptoms related to feeding, which were discovered to be due to a congenital condition causing a displacement of the soft palate in the foal’s mouth. The researchers found a specific treatment for this condition, which enabled the foal to grow and develop normally.

Background

• The condition being studied, Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate (DDSP), is commonly found in athletic adult horses, rather than in newborn foals.
• The report concerns a seven-day-old female Quarter Horse displaying symptoms of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), milk reflux through the nostrils and mouth, and difficulty exhaling (expiratory dyspnea).
• These symptoms had been observed since the foal was four days old, and preliminary examination indicated possible aspiration pneumonia.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• DDSP was diagnosed after an endoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract, and the symptoms were associated with local inflammation.
• Radiographic examination was also performed to rule out another possible condition, hypoplasia of the epiglottis.
• Initial treatment with an anti-inflammatory drug (flunixin meglumine) did not yield any improvement in the foal’s symptoms.
• An oral endoscopy procedure under general anesthesia revealed that the DDSP was caused by a persistent frenulum of the epiglottis, which was then treated surgically using a rigid endoscope and curved laparoscopic scissors.

Post-Surgery Findings and Conclusion

• Following surgery, the foal was observed to no longer have difficulties swallowing or breathing at rest, although some respiratory noise was noted during exercise for five days post-surgery.
• According to the foal’s owner, the animal was completely normal during exercise post-discharge. At the time of the report, the horse had reached three years of age and was performing athletically as expected, indicating successful recovery.
• In conclusion, the researchers suggest that persistent frenulum of the epiglottis should be considered a potential cause when examining neonatal foals displaying symptoms such as nasal milk reflux and expiratory dyspnea.
• The report emphasizes the importance of differential diagnosis for DDSP in foals, and the importance of oral endoscopic examination for diagnosis.