Abdominal abscess involving a metallic foreign body removed via thoracotomy in a horse

Reports of alimentary tract foreign bodies have been rarely reported in the equine literature. This Case Report concerns a mare who presented persistent fever and mild signs of colic. A metallic foreign body was found near to the diaphragm on radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations. A thoracotomy was subsequently performed by means of a 7th rib resection and a diaphragmatic incision made in order to remove the intra‐abdominal abscess containing a metallic foreign body. Peritonitis was the major complication and was managed during hospitalisation by multiple lavage‐drainage procedure of the abdominal cavity. Long‐term outcome (3 years) was good.     

Treatment of a metallic foreign body in the cranial cervical region of a horse

Ingestion of foreign bodies is uncommon in horses when compared with indiscriminate grazers such as cattle. This case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a cervical abscess in a Thoroughbred racehorse thought to be associated with ingestion of wire. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination provided a diagnosis, and conservative treatment of the lesion with antimicrobials initially allowed the lesion to localise closer to the skin for safer surgical exploration. Intra-operative ultrasonographic imaging facilitated surgical access, removal of the foreign body, and drainage. While surgical treatment is usually necessary to resolve an abscess, initially conservative therapy may help to improve the prognosis by simplifying surgical access and reducing the risk of surgical complications.     

Removal of a metallic foreign body from the tongue of three horses

The objective of this case report is to describe the diagnostic and surgical techniques for removal of a metallic foreign body in the tongue of three adult horses. The three horses were presented for evaluation and treatment of dysphagia and marked hypersalivation of 3–5 days duration. Radiographs of the head revealed the presence of a metallic foreign body in the tongue of each horse. The foreign bodies could be precisely localised under general anaesthesia using palpation and lingual ultrasonography and/or lingual radiography in combination with a forceps as a marker. The foreign bodies were successfully removed using laparoscopic instruments creating minimal soft tissue trauma. The use of long (43 cm) small laparoscopic (5 mm) instruments enabled good visualisation of the surgical field, providing optimal conditions for successful minimally invasive surgical treatment of horses with foreign bodies in the tongue. The three horses made uneventful recoveries and 12 months after surgery were eating normally and could be ridden with a bit as per usual routine. It was concluded that using long laparoscopic instruments in combination with palpation, ultrasonography and/or radiography allowed removal of the foreign body creating minimal soft tissue trauma and allowing optimal conditions for a fast recovery.     

Pleuropneumonia in two horses caused by a tracheobronchial foreign body

Two horses suffering from a cough, purulent foul smelling nasal discharge, inappetence and intermittent fever were hospitalised at the Equine Clinic in Brno from 2008–2010. A diagnosis was made on the basis of endoscopic examination which revealed a foreign body (thorny branchlet) in the right caudal lobe bronchus in both horses. Pleuropneumonia developed as a complication in both horses. Following endoscopic extraction of the foreign bodies, both horses were treated using antibiotics and drainage of the pleural cavity. One of the patients recovered, the second was subjected to euthanasia at the request of the owner.     

Septic peritonitis secondary to a perforating gastric foreign body in an Irish Sport Horse gelding

A 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding was referred to the University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital for low-grade colic that had been nonresponsive to medical treatment. Diagnostic investigation revealed a marked septic peritonitis. The inciting cause was detected by gastroscopy to be a perforating foreign body in the pylorus of the stomach from a briar of a blackthorn plant (Prunus spinosa spp.). Successful removal of the foreign body was achieved surgically via gastrotomy. The horse subsequently developed a multi-drug resistant abdominal incision site infection, which was successfully managed over a 2-month period. Abdominal incisional herniation occurred thereafter. Six months post-operatively, the horse was back in light work and no further adverse sequelae had been noted.     

Intracardiac foreign body in a dog

A dog that was referred to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center was discovered to have a bamboo skewer within the right atrium and right ventricle, traversing the tricuspid valve. The skewer was ingested approximately four months prior to referral and was partially removed via gastrotomy. The presenting complaint at the time of referral included coagulopathy, anemia and leukocytosis. A linear, hyperechoic structure was identified in the right heart during an echocardiogram. The foreign body was suspected to be a portion of the skewer that the patient had previously ingested. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed and the foreign body was removed successfully. Complications following surgery included the development of tricuspid valve and ventricular wall thrombi, atrial flutter and amiodarone toxicity. Many indications have been described in the veterinary literature for cardiopulmonary bypass. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, successful removal of an intracardiac foreign body with cardiopulmonary bypass has not been reported in a veterinary patient. This represents a new indication for cardiopulmonary bypass in veterinary medicine.     

Wooden orbital foreign body in a Weimaraner

A 2-year-old, male Weimaraner presented with acute-onset nonaxial exophthalmos with dorsal deviation of the left globe. Periorbital swelling, pain and a profuse purulent ocular discharge were present on the left side. A draining sinus tract was present in the left ventral conjunctival fornix and another in the left pterygopalatine fossa. The right eye was normal on complete ophthalmic examination. Orbital ultrasonography revealed large, double, linear, parallel echogenic bands with shadowing present in the ventrolateral aspect of the left orbit suggestive of a foreign body. Deformation of the posterior segment was also present. Removal of the orbital foreign body was attempted under ultrasound guidance via the discharging sinuses in the ventral conjunctival fornix and the pterygopalatine fossa. Neither approach was successful; however, a small amount of organic material was retrieved confirming the diagnosis of orbital foreign body. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a linear foreign body of 8 x 1.5 x 0.8 cm extending from the orbit to the level of the oropharynx. A modified lateral orbitotomy with zygomatic arch resection on the left side allowed removal of the wooden foreign body.     

Splenic abscesses due to migrant metallic wires from small intestine in a horse

This reports discusses a perforating metallic wire that was suspected of causing chronic weight loss, inappetance and pyrexia in a 15‐year‐old Standardbred gelding, due to the fact that during the previous 18 months, 6 horses coming from the same yard were referred for recurrent or acute colic related to the ingestion of metallic wires. Splenomegaly was detected ultrasonographically and confirmed during surgery. During necropsy, 2 metallic wires 0.2 mm in diameter and 3–4 cm long were found in a markedly enlarged spleen with several nonencapsulated abscesses. Metallic wire perforation and migration through the lower alimentary tract may involve different abdominal quadrants (intestine, abdominal wall, spleen, liver) and lead to different clinical syndromes as acute or recurrent colic and weight loss. A clinical diagnosis is challenging as the clinical signs are often nonspecific and prognosis is generally considered poor.     

Scleral and suprachoroidal foreign body in a dog--a case report

A 2-year-old male castrated Springer Spaniel with a 3-week history of waxing and waning right sided exophthalmos, periorbital swelling, chemosis, and fundic changes was examined. Ophthalmic examination of the right eye revealed slight chemosis and nictitating membrane protrusion. Indirect ophthalmoscopy showed an approximately 8 mm peripapillary hyporeflective tapetal lesion with subretinal edema consistent with a bulbar/retrobulbar disease process. Inflammatory or neoplastic diseases were the main differential diagnoses. Ancillary diagnostics (ocular ultrasound and computed tomography) showed a focal, poorly defined dense tissue involving the caudomedial aspect of the right globe, adjacent to the optic nerve head without apparent orbital involvement. Considering the duration, location, and severity of the clinical findings, enucleation of the right globe was performed. Histopathology revealed focal thickening of the posterior wall with severe pyogranulomatous inflammation, surrounding a foreign body most consistent with plant material embedded between the sclera and the choroid (suprachoroidal). This report describes a rare case of a scleral/suprachoroidal foreign body (plant material), and outlines the difficulty of establishing an etiological diagnosis using standard ocular imaging.     

一例母犬胃内异物合并绝育手术的诊疗

文章研究治愈母犬胃内异物的同时做绝育手术的效果.对病犬采用临床检查、血常规检查、血清生化检查、影像学检查等方法确诊胃内有异物,并通过手术取出胃内异物的同时进行绝育.结果 表明:从母犬胃内取出一块大小为2 cm×1 cm×1 cm的石子,并成功给母犬做绝育,术后恢复效果较好.该病例的诊疗经验为临床上犬胃内异物的诊治和绝育...     

Successful treatment of two horses after perforation of the small intestine by fine wire

This paper describes the successful surgical management of two horses with fine wire penetration of the small intestine. Exploratory laparotomy in Case 1 revealed an adhesion between adjacent loops of jejunum. Dissection of the adhesion revealed a small length of fine wire. In Case 2, exploratory laparotomy revealed a dense adhesion between the jejunum and the ventral abdominal wall. Dissection of the adhesion also revealed fine wire extending from the jejunum. Neither case required intestinal resection, and both horses made uncomplicated recoveries from the surgical procedures and were discharged 5 days after surgery.     

Identification of a periorbital wooden foreign body as the cause of chronic ocular discharge in a horse

The clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic features of a horse with a wooden foreign body embedded in the deep portion of the right masseter muscle adjacent to the right orbit are presented. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging findings and treatment of a penetrating wooden foreign body in a horse that had no history of trauma or evidence of a puncture wound. This report documents the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging to detect a wooden foreign body embedded in the soft tissues of a horse with a chronic copious ocular discharge. Two surgical procedures were necessary, which is a frequent complication encountered with wooden foreign bodies.     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic reattachment of a mesoduodenojejunal defect in a broodmare

In this report, a jejunal entrapment through a presumptive chronic mesenteric defect extending over approximately 20 cm of the duodenojejunal region was found as a cause of acute onset colic in a multiparous broodmare. Mesenteric reattachment during the initial exploratory laparotomy was deemed unsafe given the majority of the avulsion could only be palpated deep within the abdomen. Following recovery and an uneventful parturition 12 days later, the mare returned 18 days post-foaling for attempted, standing laparoscopic reattachment of the mesentery. The procedure was converted to a hand-assisted technique and reattachment completed using a mechanical suturing device and knotless, unidirectional barbed suture. The mare was discharged 3 days post-operatively, bred 28 days following discharge and a singleton pregnancy confirmed 15 days post-ovulation and 46 days following laparoscopy. There were no signs of abdominal discomfort noted in the first 8 months following surgery. In summary, a standing, right-sided hand-assisted laparoscopic approach provided effective visibility to the mesoduodenojejunal region.     

Migration of retrobulbar wooden foreign body between diagnostic imaging and surgical extraction in a German shepherd dog

A 2‐year‐old, male castrated German shepherd dog was presented to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center (UTVMC) with periorbital swelling and conjunctival mucopurulent discharge 2 days following removal of a twig from the medial canthus by the owner. Diagnostic imaging was pursued due to the suspicion of a retrobulbar foreign body (FB). A cylindrical FB approximately 3.0 cm in length and 1.0 cm in diameter with concentric rings, suspected to be wooden material, was identified on computed tomography (CT) imaging. An attempt to remove the FB via a stab incision using ultrasound guidance was unsuccessful, and postmanipulation ultrasound confirmed the FB position was unchanged. An exploratory orbitotomy was performed, using the acquired CT images for guidance in locating the FB; however, the FB was not present at the predicted site. The CT imaging was repeated and showed that the FB had migrated rostrally approximately 3.0 cm, compared to the originally acquired study and its same location during attempted ultrasound‐guided removal. A combination of CT‐guided needle placement and contrast injection was then used with repeat imaging in an attempt to better localize the FB and its soft tissue tract. The dog was taken back into the operating room, and the wooden FB was successfully removed.     

Guttural pouch empyema secondary to a periocular foreign body

This report describes a 3‐year‐old gelding presenting with signs of injury to its left eye following an accident in which the horse crashed into a hedge. The first treatment attempted to treat infections in the eye and respiratory tract due to secretions identified in the trachea. The horse did not improve and further clinical and radiographic evaluations detected a guttural pouch empyema. Surgical drainage was performed and antimicrobial treatment continued. However, the horse presented with severe epistaxis and euthanasia was elected due to suspected arterial rupture. At necropsy, a round and stiff branch plant was found creating a fistula from the left orbit to the left guttural pouch. Another branch was found inside the pouch, confirming the origin of the persistent infection and severity of the tissue lesion.     

Orbital cellulitis and intraocular abscess caused by migrating grass in a cat

We report an unusual case of orbital cellulitis in a cat. Drainage via the pterygopalatine fossa and medical treatment were performed. Failure of resolution and loss of ocular structure and visual function with a poor prognosis led to enucleation. During surgery, plant material and purulent exudate were present in the orbit. Histopathology showed an intraocular foreign body of grass that had migrated through the sclera causing a suprachoroidal abscess with choroidal and retinal detachment.     

Assessment of body fat in the pony: part I. Relationships between the anatomical distribution of adipose tissue, body composition and body condition

Reasons for performing study: Evaluation of equine body fat content is important for nutritional and clinical purposes. However, our understanding of total body fat and its regional distribution in the body is sparse. Currently, body fat evaluation relies on the subjective assessment of body condition score (BCS), which has never been validated against ‘gold standard’ chemical analysis or dissection measurements in ponies. Objectives: To define the relationships between subjective (BCS), objective (morphometric) indices of body fat and ‘gold standard’ measurements of actual body composition. Hypotheses: BCS and morphometry offer valid, noninvasive methods for determination of body fat in equids. Methods: Seven mature (mean ± s.e. 13 ± 3 years, 212 ± 14 kg, BCS 1.25–7/9), Welsh Mountain pony mares, destined for euthanasia (for nonresearch purposes), were used. For all ponies, body mass (BM), BCS and various morphometric measurements were recorded. Following euthanasia, all ponies were systematically dissected. Discrete white adipose tissue (WAT) depots were independently described. Gross, body chemical composition was determined by proximate analyses. Results: Total somatic soft tissues increased linearly (r²= 1.00), whereas body WAT content (1–26% live BM) increased exponentially (r²= 0.96), with BCS. WAT was equally distributed between internal and external sites in all animals irrespective of BCS. Nuchal fat was a poor predictor of total WAT (r²= 0.66). Periorbital WAT did not alter with BCS (r²= 0.01). Heart girth:withers height and ultrasonic retroperitoneal fat depth were closely associated with total, chemically‐extracted lipid which comprised 1–29% live BM (r²= 0.91 and 0.88, respectively). Conclusions and potential relevance: The exponential relationship between BCS and total body WAT/lipid suggests that BCS is unlikely to be a sensitive index of body fat for animals in moderate‐obese states. Morphometric measurements (body girths and retroperitonel fat depth) may be useful to augment subjective BCS systems.