Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a Clydesdale gelding.

This study presents the case of a 7-year-old Clydesdale gelding diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition in horses, which was complicated by colitis caused by antibiotic treatment. Despite attempts to treat, the horse’s condition worsened, leading to euthanasia, and the antemortem diagnosis was later confirmed in postmortem examination.

Objective and Method of this Research

• The primary goal of this research was to diagnose and handle a rare case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a Clydesdale gelding, a breed of draft horse, which presented unusual symptoms including lethargy, ventral oedema and diarrhoea.
• The researchers compiled and analysed clinical signs, imaging, laboratory findings, and the horse’s medical and treatment history. They also conducted a postmortem examination to affirm their initial diagnosis of HCM.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) in the Horse

• HCM is a condition characterized by the thickening of the heart muscle without a clear cause, which can lead to death due to heart failure. It is seldom reported in horses, making this case unique and valuable for scientific documentation.
• In this study, the aforementioned Clydesdale gelding showed clinical signs of progressive lethargy and ventral oedema. These signs, along with imaging and laboratory findings, were indicative of HCM and presented a rare diagnosis opportunity.

Complication: Antibiotic-Associated Colitis

• After being referred for the condition, the gelding developed diarrhea due to the antibiotics administered by the referring veterinarian. This antibiotic-associated colitis further complicated the horse’s already precarious condition.
• The colitis, an inflammation of the horse’s inner lining of the colon, resulted from the antibiotics upsetting the balance of the horse’s gut bacteria. It’s a relatively common side effect of broad-spectrum antibiotic administration in horse, adding an extra layer of complexity in the diagnosis and handling of this case.

Final Outcome and Conclusion

• As the horse’s condition continued to deteriorate, the decision was made to euthanize the horse. Following euthanasia, a postmortem examination was performed, conclusively confirming HCM — up until this point an antemortem diagnosis.
• The researchers concluded that this unique case gave insight into diagnosing and dealing with HCM in horses, a condition that is not fully understood due to its rarity. The gelding’s diagnosis and treatment were complicated by antibiotic-associated colitis, which served to underscore the potential complications and side effects of antibiotic use in equine medicine.