Categorization of the pelvic limb standing posture in nine breeds of dogs

The objective of the study was to categorize objectively nine breeds of healthy dogs according to pelvic limb standing posture. A total of 135 dogs from different breeds were used and the standing angles of the hip, stifle, and tarsal joints, together with the percentages of the greater trochanter, patella and tuber calcanei heights, with respect to crista iliaca height, were used as discriminant variables for the categorization of pelvic limb posture. All included breeds were allocated to three groups of the standing pelvic limb posture. The best discriminant variables between the three groups were the percentage of patellar height, and the standing angles of the stifle and tarsal joints. German shepherds, Anatolian shepherds, golden retrievers, Rottweilers, Belgian Malinois and Dobermann pinschers were well separated between 89% and 100% success rate for the categorization. The minimal success rate was determined in Berner sennenhunds as the ratio of 75%. It was also determined that Dobermann pinschers had the straightest pelvic limbs, while German shepherds had the most angulated pelvic limbs. Further studies are required to document the impact of postural differences in active and passive structure diseases of the locomotor system of the pelvic limb among dog breeds.     

Polyarthritis secondary to septic thrombophlebitis in an Arabian mare

A 3‐year‐old Arabian mare presented with diarrhoea and depression. During hospitalisation, the mare developed septic thrombophlebitis associated with a jugular catheter. One week later, she developed secondary bilateral tarsocrural joint septic arthritis. Following surgical intervention and intensive medical therapy, the mare recovered successfully. The case highlights an unusual and previously unreported complication of septic thrombophlebitis.     

Accessory nictitating membrane in a Lipizzaner colt

A 2‐year‐old Lipizzaner colt presented for removal of a mass over the left eye. The colt had no blepharospasm or significant ocular discharge, but the cornea underlying the mass was mildly oedematous. The mass protruded from the conjunctiva at the dorsotemporal aspect of the globe and was covered in normal conjunctiva. It had a gross appearance similar to the cartilaginous flap of a nictitating membrane, but in an aberrant location. It was moveable to cover the dorsal aspect of the cornea when the globe was retropulsed. Excision of the mass under general anaesthesia was elected. Histopathology supported a diagnosis of an accessory nictitating membrane, consisting of a cartilaginous band surrounded by glandular epithelium. The colt recovered from surgery without complication and no problems were reported by the owner at 8.5 months post‐operatively. To the author's knowledge, there have not been previous reports of accessory or ectopic nictitating membranes in equine or other species.     

Multisystemic bovine mycobacteriosis in a pony with neurological signs and weight loss

This report describes the clinical, biochemical and histopathological findings of a case of disseminated, primary mycobacterial infection with Mycobacterium bovis in a pony presenting with neurological signs and weight loss. This report revisits tuberculosis as a potential differential diagnosis in horses at a time of relatively strong tuberculosis control in the UK and iterates the importance of post‐mortem examination as a diagnostic tool for clinicians. Key public health questions following exposure to mycobacterial pathogens are also discussed.