Autologous vaccination for the treatment of equine sarcoids: 18 cases (2009–2014)

The purpose of this retrospective case series was to assess the outcome of an autologous vaccination procedure on single and multiple sarcoid lesions, determine complication rate, and report owner satisfaction. Medical records (18 cases) from January 2009 through May 2014 were evaluated to identify horses undergoing the procedure. Signalment, number, size, anatomic location of lesions, and type of historical treatment were recorded. Follow-up was obtained via standardized owner survey, veterinary examination, and digital images. Data recorded and analyzed included ancillary therapies post-procedure, decrease in number and/or size of sarcoid lesions, sarcoid regrowth, complications, and owner satisfaction. There was a decrease in number of lesions observed by owners in 75% of cases and a decrease in size of sarcoids in 93.8% of cases. Clinical regression observed by owners was noted in 68.8% of cases. There were complications in 43.8% of cases and owner satisfaction in 75% of cases.     

Sialolithiasis in horses: A retrospective study of 25 cases (2002–2013)

This study evaluated outcomes of surgical treatment of equine sialolithiasis, highlighting cases involving the proximal parotid salivary duct. Sialoliths in the proximal parotid duct were difficult to identify radiographically and more frequently associated with draining tracts and sialadenitis compared with sialoliths in the distal parotid duct. Ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of sialolithiasis in all cases in which there was no radiographic evidence of a sialolith. All cases of proximal parotid duct sialolithiasis required transcutaneous removal. A longer duration of illness was observed in cases of proximal parotid duct sialolithiasis compared with cases involving the distal parotid duct, and in cases requiring transcutaneous removal compared with cases requiring transoral removal. Recurrence of sialolithiasis was documented in 24% of cases, all of which were located in the distal parotid duct. The average time to recurrence was 2.8 years.     

Scrotal tumors in dogs: A retrospective study of 676 cases (1986–2010)

The objective of this study was to determine common tumor types that occur on the canine scrotum in relation to other cutaneous locations and to identify potential risk factors for specific scrotal tumor development. A retrospective study was conducted and the database of pathology reports from the Surgical Pathology Service of the Department of Pathology and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania from 1986 to 2010 was searched for canine neoplastic scrotal and non-scrotal cutaneous lesions. Neoplastic lesions were evaluated based on diagnosis, breed, age, and number and location of tumors (scrotal versus non-scrotal cutaneous). Mast cell tumor, melanocytoma, malignant melanoma, vascular hamartoma, hemangiosarcoma, hemangioma, and cutaneous histiocytoma were the most common tumor types identified on the canine scrotum. Breed predispositions and mean age at diagnosis were identified for each tumor type and should be considered when planning surgical excision of a canine scrotal tumor.     

Prevalence of equine ulcerative keratomycosis in Colorado and association of environmental factors: A retrospective and descriptive study (2002–2017)

Equine ulcerative keratomycosis is relatively commonly presented to teaching hospitals in North America, with a prevalence from 24 to 86%. Horses in Colorado may have lower risk due to the dry mountain climate, but data are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ulcerative keratomycosis amongst horses with ulcerative keratitis presented to Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (CSU-VTH) ophthalmology service and to evaluate environmental factors (season, temperature, humidity, wind speed and elevation) associated with ulcerative keratomycosis in Colorado. A database search identified horses with ulcerative keratitis presented to the ophthalmology service at CSU-VTH from January 2002 to August 2017. Sixty-one horses met the inclusion criteria of a corneal cytology and/or culture or histopathology at the time of diagnosis; cases lacking that were excluded. Environmental factors at the boarding sites, including season, temperature, humidity, wind speed and elevation and clinical outcomes for fungal cases, were recorded. Prevalence of fungal infection amongst equine ulcerative keratitis was 16.4% (10/61), suggesting that CSU-VTH has considerably fewer ulcerative keratomycosis cases than other veterinary teaching hospitals in North America. Spring (50%, 5/10) and fall (40%, 4/10) had the highest prevalence of fungal ulcerative keratitis in Colorado. Only one case was reported in summer (10%, 1/10); no horses were positive (0%, 0/10) in winter. Only wind speed seemed to influence the development of ulcerative keratomycosis with higher wind speeds associated with greater rates of fungal involvement (P = 0.047). Other environmental factors did not show a detectable association (all P-values >0.05). Outcomes were variable. It was concluded that horses from the area of CSU-VTH appear to be at lower risk for ulcerative keratomycosis than from the areas around other North American veterinary teaching hospitals that have reported data. Most horses with keratomycosis in this area present in the spring and fall.     

Long-term outcome of permanent tracheostomies in dogs: 21 cases (2000–2012)

This retrospective study reports long-term outcome, survival, and complications in dogs which received a permanent tracheostomy due to upper airway obstruction. Data were collected from medical records (n = 21) in 2 institutions over a 12-year period. Patients were followed until death, complications, causes of death, and survival times are reported. Major complications were reported in 50% of patients with 20% of patients receiving revision surgery. The most common complications were aspiration pneumonia and need for revision surgery. Median survival time was 328 days with 25% of patients surviving 1321 days or longer. Some (26%) patients died acutely at home at various times after surgery. Permanent tracheostomy is a viable procedure for patients with end stage upper airway obstruction; however, a subpopulation of patients suffers acute death at various times after surgery, which is thought to be due to airway obstruction.     

Surgical treatment of equine colic - a retrospective study of 297 surgeries in Norway 2005–2011

Background

Colic, defined as pain originating from the abdomen, is a common condition in horses. Most of the cases resolve spontaneously or after medical treatment, but a few require surgical treatment. Surgical treatment of colic in horses is resource-demanding and expensive, and information on prognosis is therefore important for both owners and surgeons. In the present study, surgical cases in two equine hospitals in Norway between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed. The aim of the study was to describe associations between prognostic indicators, diagnoses and short term survival by use of random effects logistic regression.

Results

In the present study, 162 out of 297 (54.5%) surgeries resulted in the horse being discharged from the hospital. Excluding cases euthanized during surgery, the overall short-term survival was 74.0% (162 out of 219 surgeries). Seventy-eight (26.3%) of the horses were euthanized during surgery, due to grave or poor prognosis. In univariable analyses, duration of colic signs, heart rate, capillary refill time, mucosal membrane appearance, intestinal sounds, affected gastrointestinal segment, hematocrit, intestinal resection, hospital and surgeon board-certification had P-value <0.20 and were assessed in multivariable analyses. Respiration rate, rectal temperature and lactate in blood also had univariable P <0.20, but were left out from multivariable analyses due to too high levels of missing values. A random effect of primary surgeon was included and breed, sex and age were tested in multivariable analyses as possible confounders; and hospital was included to control for hospital routine differences. In the final multivariable model the variables mucosal membrane appearance, affected gastrointestinal segment and surgeon board-certification significantly influenced survival. The random surgeon effect was not significant.

Conclusions

The present study showed that prognostic parameters and diagnoses of surgical treatment of horses with colic in Norway are in accordance with reports from other parts of the world. The significant effect of board-certification of surgeon is not reported in previous studies. The general short-term survival rate was somewhat lower than reported in other studies, partly due to more horses being euthanized intraoperatively in the present study. This might be because of economical or animal welfare reasons.     

White line disease: A review (1998–2018)

White line disease (WLD) is a significant pathological condition that affects the equine hoof. White line disease continues to frustrate veterinarians and farriers due to the diversity regarding the aetiology, diagnosis and especially treatment. Furthermore, WLD lacks a definitive definition as the disease becomes apparent only when the hoof wall is compromised with an extensive separation, a hoof capsule distortion is present or when lameness exists. Clinical signs can range from a minor hoof wall separation to an extensive disruption of the external laminar bond resulting in displacement of the distal phalanx within the hoof capsule. There has been a myriad of treatments and topical preparations proposed for treating WLD, but most remain controversial with few having any scientific documentation or evidence of efficacy. This review of WLD is based on the sparse information available in the veterinary literature, the large number of WLD cases treated successfully in the authors’ combined practices using conventional farriery and the relevant questions that hopefully can be answered in the future.     

Gastric squamous cell carcinoma in the horse: Seven cases (2009–2019)

This report describes gastric squamous cell carcinoma (GSCC) in seven horses. It records the clinical signs, treatment and outcomes. Main clinical signs were mostly nonspecific and included weight loss, anorexia, fever, tachycardia and tachypnoea. Some more suggestive clinical signs were observed such as recurrent choke, halitosis and hypersalivation. Chronic anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia were common findings. Gastroscopy identified a gastric mass in four cases (57.1%); however, visualisation of the stomach was precluded in the other three horses due to distal oesophageal neoplastic infiltration and compression. Gastric wall thickening was noticed using abdominal ultrasonography in four horses (57.1%). Neoplastic cells could only be detected in the peritoneal fluid of 2 out of 7 horses. Endoscopic-guided or transabdominal ultrasound-guided biopsies allowed an ante-mortem diagnosis in three horses (42.8%). Gastric masses were identified at post-mortem examination and metastasis were confirmed in the liver and/or the spleen for 4/4 cases. In the cases for which palliative therapy was attempted, most of the horses were subjected to euthanasia within 4 weeks. In conclusion, GSCC is an uncommon neoplastic disease in horses. A combination of diagnostic tests is often necessary to achieve a diagnosis, which is frequently only made late in the course of the disease. As a result, GSCC is commonly associated with a poor short-term prognosis.     

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria in an equine hospital (2012–2015)

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are an emerging threat in human and veterinary medicine. There are few reports about infections caused by MDR isolates in horses. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of infections caused by MDR bacteria at the Equine Hospital Zurich between 2012 and 2015. Medical records were searched for horses with confirmed MDR bacterial infection. Multidrug resistance was defined according to human guidelines specific for each pathogen. MDR isolates were most commonly isolated from post-procedural infections (53/110, 48%), followed by musculoskeletal (16/110, 15%) and soft tissue infections (16/110, 15%). Escherichia coli (32/158, 20%) and Staphylococcus aureus (25/158, 16%) were the most common isolates. High resistance rates precluded therapy with commonly used antimicrobial drugs. The overall mortality rate was 20% (22/108) but depended on the localisation of the infection. Antimicrobial treatment prior to development of infection was reported for 89% (91/102) of horses. This study showed that MDR pathogens, mainly MDR E. coli and MRSA, cause a considerable number of infections in horses. A wide range of infections was seen, however, nosocomial infections predominated. These cases are typically hospitalised, pretreated with antibiotics, and suffering from comorbidities putting them at high-risk for acquiring infections caused by MDR isolates. The mortality of such infections was generally low but depended on site of infection.