Lameness Associated with Mineralization of the Central Tarsal Bone and a Small Osseous Cyst-Like Lesion in Two Sport Horses

The clinical features, response to local analgesia, and imaging findings of two mature sport horses with lameness associated with abnormal mineralization of the dorsal aspect of the central tarsal bone and a small osseous cyst-like lesion are described. Although the radiological findings and the lesions identified using magnetic resonance imaging were similar, the lameness characteristics and responses to perineural analgesia differed. One horse failed to respond to treatment and was retired. The second horse was humanely destroyed. Postmortem examination confirmed the presence of an osseous cyst-like lesion distal to the subchondral bone plate of the central tarsal bone and extensive dense cancellous bone extending one-half the dorsoplantar depth of the bone.     

Incomplete Tears of the Medial Calcaneal Insertion of the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon of a Hind Limb in Three Horses

Twelve tarsi from six horses humanely destroyed for reasons unrelated to the study were dissected and measurements of the calcaneal insertions of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) were acquired. The medial calcaneal insertions of the SDFT ranged in length and thickness from 4.0 to 5.4 cm and 0.3 to 0.5 cm, respectively, and the lateral calcaneal insertions ranged in length and width from 4.0 to 6.3 cm and 0.3 to 0.5 cm, respectively. The calcaneal insertions of the SDFT of both hind limbs of six horses with no history or clinical signs of hind limb lameness and no palpable abnormality of the tarsi were examined ultrasonographically. The medial calcaneal insertion of the SDFT was of uniform echogenicity, thickest at the attachment to the SDFT, and smoothly tapering to its insertion on the plantaromedial aspects of the calcaneus. The lateral calcaneal insertion was less echogenic adjacent to the SDFT than the tendon itself but was of similar echogenicity toward the insertion on the plantarolateral aspect of the calcaneus. Three horses with full-thickness incomplete tears of the medial calcaneal insertion of the SDFT had variable enlargement of the calcaneal bursa, an unstable (n = 2) or stable (n = 1) SDFT and lameness. The presence of an extensive but incomplete full-thickness tear of the medial calcaneal insertion of the SDFT was determined ultrasonographically in all horses.     

An evaluation of the quality and physical properties of calf leather following topical application of eprinomectin

The gross and histological appearance of skins obtained from twelve 6–10 month-old Friesian × Hereford calves 14–15 days after they were treated with a topical formulation of 0.5% eprinomectin administered at 1 ml per 10 kg bodyweight was compared to that of skins from twelve untreated controls. No significant differences were observed and there were also no significant differences in the quality and physical properties of leather produced from the skins of treated and untreated groups, indicating that topical eprinomectin has no deleterious effects on the leather quality of calf skins.