Tetanus in the Horse: A Review of 20 Cases (1970 to 1990)

The case records of 20 horses with tetanus referred to the Ontario Veterinary College-Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1970 and 1990 were reviewed. The fatality rate was 75%. There was a strong association with previous vaccination and survival ( P = .03). Most of the animals had been injured an average of 9 days (range 2 to 21 days) prior to development of clinical signs. Hyperesthesia and prolapse of the third eyelid were the most common clinical signs. Treatment regimens varied during hospitalization; however, all horses received parenteral penicillin, tranquilizers, tetanus toxoid, and antitoxin. Five of the nonsurviving animals were given intrathecal tetanus antitoxin. One animal had seizures as a complication of intrathecal treatment. The prognosis was best for horses that (1) had been vaccinated prior to the injury, (2) responded to the phenothiazine tranquilizers, and (3) did not rapidly (over 24 to 48 hours) become recumbent. Considering the species susceptibility, potential for contaminated wounds, and the increased survival of vaccinated horses, yearly revaccination is recommended.     

Electrochemotherapy for the Treatment of Multiple Melanomas in a Horse

A 22-year-old Camargue mare was referred for showing signs of discomfort during chewing, building up of food in the mouth, and foul odor from the mouth. On physical examination, the mare presented bilateral pigmented labial masses affecting the upper and lower lips, more in the form of plaques at the mucocutaneous junction as well as multiple perivulvar and perianal lumps. The skin lesions were biopsied for histopathologic examination and the clinical suspect of melanoma was confirmed. The owner elected the lesions to be treated with electrochemotherapy using the drug cisplatin. After two sessions, the nodules were shrunk by 50% and the horse’s ability to feed normally was restored: at that time, the owner had the treatment discontinued because of financial issues. The horse is still in partial remission after 1 year from the end of the treatment. Electrochemotherapy can be successfully used to palliate large melanomas in horses.     

Surgical Treatment of Complicated Fractures of the Splint Bones in the Horse

The clinical signs, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and postoperative results in 8 horses with comminuted or open fractures of the splint bone are described. Surgical therapy was chosen to hasten the convalescent period, prevent large callus formation, improve cosmetic appearance, and, in open fractures, for aggressive wound management. Four horses used for nonracing purposes had full recovery following surgery. Two of four racehorses had residual lameness after surgery. Three of four racehorses eventually raced with decreased performance.     

Mandibular Adamantinoma in a Horse Radical Surgical Treatment

An 11-year-old, throughbred stallion was examined for a small, firm swelling on the right mandible. During the following 4 weeks, the swelling markedly increased in size. An adamantinoma was diagnosed on histopathologic examination. Surgical treatment was "enblock" resection of the tumor and associated mandible, cryosurgery, and stabilization with both internal and external orthopedic fixation devices. The horse recovered from surgery, and for the past year has been a useful breeding stallion.     

Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis Osteomyelitis with ltraconazole in a Horse

Itraconazole, a tricyclic azole effective against a number of deep mycotic diseases, was used to treat a Quarter Horse filly with coccidioidomycosis. The horse was almost normal after 90 days of treatment. Five months after discontinuing itraconazole treatment, the filly had severe neck pain and neurologic signs from recurrence of coccidioidomycosis and was treated with itraconazole for an additional 6 months. Her clinical condition improved to almost normal and the filly has remained normal for 2 years. There was no evidence of drug toxicity.     

Treatment of Exuberant Granulation Tissue in the Horse Evaluation of Four Methods

Four methods of treating granulating wounds on the dorsal aspect of the metacar-pophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of ponies were evaluated. The following treatments were used: Group 1—excision of the granulation tissue with no further treatment; Group 2—cryosurgery; Group 3—excision of the granulation tissue and pressure bandage; and Group 4—excision of the granulation tissue and immobilization of the limb with a plaster cast. The wounds in Group 1 healed fastest, without producing exuberant granulation tissue and with only moderate scar fibrosis. The wounds in Group 2 healed without producing exuberant granulation tissue but with marked scarring. Wounds in Groups 3 and 4 took longer (p < 0.001) to heal compared to wounds in Groups 1 and 2. Wounds in Groups 3 and 4 produced exuberant granulation tissue, but the resultant scars were the least fibrotic.     

马的咽气癖及其防制措施研究进展

在动物的异常行为中以刻板行为最为常见,而咽气癖又是马最常见的口部刻板行为之一。作者就咽气癖在生理方面和心智方面对马体产生的影响、行为基础、诱因的研究进展及常见的防治措施进行综述。     

Dorsal Laminectomy in the Horse II. Evaluation in the Normal Horse

Subtotal dorsal cervical laminectomy was performed on nine normal horses to evaluate positioning, refine the surgical technique, and assess the immediate and long-term effects of this procedure in the horse. Funkquist type B laminectomies were performed at various levels from C3-C4 to C6-C7. Absorbable gelatin sponge or autogenous nuchal fat was placed over the exposed dura mater. Surgery times varied from 2 to 3 hours, and all horses recovered without complication. Rapid primary intention wound healing occurred, with two horses showing neck pain. All remained neurologically normal. The horses were euthanized 6 weeks, 3 months, or 6 months postoperatively. Myelograms performed just prior to euthanasia demonstrated normal or expanded dye column widths. Necropsy revealed that all surgical sites had healed well. The laminectomy membrane was soft and pliable and could be easily separated from the underlying dura mater when fat was used as interpositional material. When gelatin sponge was used, the laminectomy membrane was firmly bonded to the dura. Spinal cords at the level of laminectomy appeared normal and moved freely within the vertebral canal. Histological evaluation of the laminectomy sites and associated spinal cord revealed no abnormalities attributable to the surgery. It was concluded that dorsal cervical laminectomy can be performed in horses without untoward sequelae. The procedure may be useful for the treatment of equine cervical compressive myelopathies.     

Arthroscopy in the Horse

Veterinary Research Communications -