Minimally invasive cranial ostectomy for the treatment of impinging dorsal spinous processes in 102 standing horses.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a minimally invasive cranial ostectomy for the treatment of impingement of dorsal spinous processes (DSPs) in the standing horse. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: One hundred two horses with impinging DSPs. METHODS: The case records of all horses that had the described technique between 2011 and 2019 were reviewed. All sites of impinging DSPs were treated under standing sedation and local anesthesia. The minimally invasive cranial ostectomy of the caudal DSP was performed with bone rongeurs through multiple small incisions. RESULTS: Of the 102 horses treated with this technique, no surgical complications were recorded. Median (range) long-term follow-up for all horses was 18 months (12-50 months) postoperatively. Of the 66 horses available for follow-up that were still alive, 53 horses (80%) had complete resolution of clinical signs and returned to the intended work. There were 36 horses with a concurrent orthopedic issue presurgery, and 25/36 (69%) returned to the same level of intended work; of the horses with no evidence of another orthopedic issue presurgery, 28/30 (93%) returned to the same level of intended work. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive cranial ostectomy of the caudal DSP had a good success rate in horses with impingment of DSPs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The described minimally invasive ostectomy technique in standing horses is a low-risk procedure that provides success rates similar to other techniques.

Hoof Disorders and Farriery in the Donkey.

This article provides a review of hoof anatomy and care in donkeys and mules. Hoof disease is a major cause of poor welfare and mortality globally. Problems associated with hoof disease are discussed in the context of behavior, diet, treatment, and prevention. The most common conditions encountered are discussed, including laminitis, the overgrown unbalanced hoof, white line disease, flexural deformities, and other significant issues. Differences between donkey and horse hoof anatomy are described.

Trauma-induced exostosis of multiple suture lines causing partial bilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction in a 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare.

A definitive diagnosis of extensive suture line exostoses affecting the nasofrontal, nasolacrimal, nasomaxillary, frontolacrimal, lacrimozygomatic and lacrimomaxillary suture lines in a 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare with chronic bilateral epiphora and facial deformation was achieved using standing computed tomography (CT) examinations. Positive contrast dacryocystorhinography using CT revealed partial bilateral obstruction of the nasolacrimal ducts. Minimally displaced depression fractures of the right nasal bone, the right maxillary bone and right frontal bone were also demonstrated. The cosmetic appearance of the periosteal reaction associated with the suture line exostosis and epiphora significantly improved within 3 months of diagnosis and treatment.

Unilateral subcutaneous fibroma in the distal femoral region of a 5-year-old Nooitgedacht mare.

A non-ossified unilateral subcutaneous fibroma was diagnosed in the distal femoral region of a 5-year-old Nooitgedacht mare. Histopathological examination of the excised mass revealed long interweaving bundles of semi-mature monotonous collagenous connective tissue with fusiform nuclei without mitotic figures. The mare made an uneventful recovery following surgical removal of the neoplasm. Subcutaneous fibromas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin swellings associated with the limbs of horses.

Xenotransfusion with packed bovine red blood cells to a wildebeest calf (Connochaetes taurinus).

A 4-month-old female blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) was presented for bilateral pelvic limb fracture repair. Clinical examination under anaesthesia revealed a water-hammer pulse and a haematocrit of 0.13. A xenotransfusion was performed using bovine (Bos taurus) erythrocytes because of inability to acquire a wildebeest donor. Clinical parameters improved following transfusion and the post-operative haematocrit value was 0.31. The wildebeest remained physiologically stable with a gradually declining haematocrit for the next three days. On the third post-operative day, the wildebeest refractured its femur and was humanely euthanised because of the poor prognosis for further fracture repair. Xenotransfusion using blood from domestic ruminants represents a life-saving short-term emergency treatment of anaemic hypoxia in wild ungulates. Domestic goats could be used as blood donors for rare ungulates where allodonors are not available.

Perineal urethrostomy to treat obstructive urolithiasis in a captive hand-raised steenbok (Raphicerus campestris).

The steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a small antelope of the family Bovidae native to the African continent. Urolithiasis, the formation of urinary calculi in the urinary tract, can be caused by a variety of factors such as diet, dehydration, infection and anatomical predisposition. Urolithiasis, with uroliths identified as magnesium calcium phosphate carbonate in composition, was diagnosed in a hand-reared 5-month-old steenbok. Perineal urethrostomy was performed as a component of the broad treatment regime that included fluid therapy, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment. However, the animal died 4 days later as a result of systemic hypoxia and energy depletion because of stress and cachexia. The challenges of post-surgical treatment, the importance of positive energy balance in small ruminants under stressful circumstances, as well as the role of diet of hand-reared antelope in predisposition to urolith formation are highlighted.

The clinical presentation and surgical treatment of verrucous dermatitis lesions in a draught horse.

Verrucous pastern dermatitis is a progressive inflammatory skin disease commonly involving the palmar or plantar aspects of the pasterns of horses. There are no reports of successful surgical treatment for multifocal circumscribed verrucous masses in the chronic stages of verrucous pastern dermatitis. A combination of sharp dissection and electrocautery was used to resect numerous multifocal circumscribed verrucous masses from the distal hindlimb of an 11-year-old gelding draught horse. There was no evidence of significant regrowth or complications at a 24 month postoperative examination.