Background: Understanding the practical application of fluid therapy and associated potential complications is a fundamental concept in equine neonatology.Aim of the article: This article is the second in a two-part series that describes the approach to fluid therapy in the foal. It covers how to administer and calculate the volume of fluid required for resuscitation and maintenance, along with potential complications that can develop from inappropriate or inadequate fluid therapy. The article also briefly covers common electrolyte derangements found in sick neonates.
Pathological conditions of the cervical vertebral column cause combinations of pain, neurologic deficits and behavioural issues that affect welfare and performance in the horse. A diagnosis of cervical vertebral malformation is associated with a high mortality rate, especially when identified in young animals. Surgical treatment offers the potential for long‐term improvement or resolution of clinical signs, at the cost of the potential for complications and an initial increased financial outlay. There are difficulties with extrapolating published outcomes to the individual case; however, representative reported outcomes following cervical vertebral interbody fusion show an improvement in ataxia of 1 grade in 60%–86% of horses, 2 grades in 7%–74% of horses and 3 grades in 1%–13% of horses, with a fatal complication rate of 6%–18%. Multiple factors, such as lesion location, cause of stenosis and duration of compression affect surgical outcome. Case selection should take into account factors such as severity of initial presentation, temperament, intended use and owner attitudes. Uniportal endoscopic foraminotomy is in its infancy but shows great promise as a minimally invasive procedure able to relieve clinical signs associated with spinal nerve impingement in the cervical vertebral column. This condition is being increasingly recognised, particularly in Warmblood sport horses. Details of greater case numbers and longer‐term follow‐up are required, but 74% of the first operated cases returned to work. Cervical articular process joint arthroscopy/arthrotomy is uncommonly indicated but offers a low risk and successful treatment option for horses diagnosed with clinically relevant and surgically accessible intra‐articular fragments or loose bodies within these joints. In all cases a clear understanding of the goals of surgery and careful discussion of the process, the risks and the anticipated outcome helps an owner and their clinical team make the most appropriate decision for their animal, in a veterinary field which still contains many unknowns for the individual patient. Research in this field is very active, with much new information forthcoming.
