Summary A tracheal duplication cyst (TDC) is a rare congenital anomaly. It is most commonly diagnosed in early life due to its mass effect, resulting in respiratory compromise and dysphagia. This case report describes a 3‐year‐old stallion presented with a chronic right ventrolateral cervical swelling. Clinical evaluation, ultrasonography and computed tomography identified a well‐defined multiloculated cystic lesion associated with the trachea and adjacent vascular structures. Surgical excision was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a TDC based on the presence of respiratory epithelium and cartilaginous tissue. At long‐term follow‐up, no recurrence was observed and the horse returned to normal athletic function.
Summary A 20‐year‐old Camargue pony mare was referred for acute‐onset neurological signs and intermittent colic. Clinical examination revealed obtundation, cranial nerve deficits, head pressing, ventral strabismus and ataxia. Laboratory analyses showed marked hyperammonaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, severe increases in liver enzymes, hypoalbuminaemia and elevated bile acids. Liver biopsy demonstrated severe chronic neutrophilic cholangiohepatitis with bridging fibrosis, ductular proliferation and hepatic lipidosis. Despite intensive supportive therapy, the pony developed acute colic accompanied by fever and gastric reflux and was euthanised because of a poor prognosis. Gross necropsy revealed a markedly dilated common bile duct containing a single large choledocholith (140 g; 11 × 5 cm), multiple hepatoliths (up to 2 cm) and a fibrotic liver. Histopathological examination of the brain identified Alzheimer type II astrocytes, consistent with hepatic encephalopathy. This case underscores the importance of considering biliary lithiasis in mature equids presenting with hepatic and neurological signs, and highlights the critical role of early diagnosis before the development of irreversible hepatic fibrosis.
Summary This case report describes the clinical presentation, ultrasonographic findings, surgical management and outcome of a 7‐year‐old Warmblood mare presented for recurrent colic, weight loss and poor performance. Rectal palpation identified a firm mass in the left caudal abdomen, which appeared on ultrasonography as a large, fluid‐filled, cyst‐like structure suspected to originate from the left ovary. Standing laparoscopy confirmed ovarian involvement and revealed intra‐abdominal adhesions adjacent to the mass. Due to its considerable size, the mass was removed via a ventral midline exploratory celiotomy. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the diagnosis of ovarian fibroleiomyoma. Telephone follow‐up 1 year post‐surgery indicated that the mare had not experienced further colic episodes and showed improvement in body condition and performance.
Summary The horse's foot is a highly dynamic and adaptive structure, continually responding to internal and external forces that influence its conformation and function. When hoof balance is compromised, uneven loading across the foot can lead to distortion of the hoof capsule. Among sport horses, mismatched front feet are frequently observed. Despite their prevalence, the origin, clinical significance and optimal management of this asymmetry remain subjects of ongoing investigation. Besides genetics, alterations in the dorsal hoof wall profile, postural and weight‐bearing patterns during standing have been linked to the development of mismatched feet as well as to adaptive responses associated with pain. Mismatched forefeet have been shown to negatively affect the duration of competitive performance in Warmblood horses. Biomechanically, the limb with the flatter hoof conformation exhibits greater maximal horizontal braking and vertical ground reaction forces, increased vertical fetlock displacement and a more compliant fetlock. Conversely, the limb with the steeper hoof angle demonstrates an earlier transition from the braking to the propulsive phase of the stride. The degree of asymmetry can range from a mildly upright hoof with a straight digital alignment and a straight hoof–pastern axis (HPA) to a club foot associated with a broken forward HPA and hyperflexion of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) with possible compensatory overloading of the contralateral foot.
Summary Background Septic funiculitis is a complication following castration in horses and surgical excision of the infected portion of the spermatic cord is often necessary. Objectives The aim of this retrospective study was to describe an alternative two‐step surgical technique combining transection of the healthy portion of the spermatic cord via an inguinal approach with excision of the infected tissue via the opening of the draining tract or scrotal scar, and to report the long‐term outcomes. Study design Retrospective case series of 25 client‐owned horses. Methods Medical records of horses with post‐castration funiculitis, surgically managed using the alternative surgical technique between 2000 and 2023, were reviewed. Long‐term follow‐up information was obtained via telephone and/or email questionnaires. Results During the study period, 40 horses underwent surgical treatment for funiculitis, of which 25 met the inclusion criterion. Median age at presentation was 3 years (range: 1–10 years), and median time from castration to presentation was 130 days (range: 14–2920 days). All horses survived to discharge after a mean hospitalisation period of 5 days postoperatively (range: 1–17 days). Complete removal of infection was achieved in 24/25 horses, with one horse requiring revision surgery because of persistent infection. No major perioperative and postoperative complications were reported. Questionnaire response was available for 14/25 horses; 2/14 were excluded as they died or were euthanised for unrelated reasons. There was complete resolution of clinical signs in 11/12 horses and 12/12 horses were used for their intended use. Main limitations Main limitations were the small sample size and lack of a conventional treatment group due to the retrospective nature of the study. Conclusions The alternative surgical technique is a safe and effective approach for the surgical management of septic funiculitis, in selected cases, with favourable long‐term outcomes in terms of resolution of clinical signs and intended use of the horse.
Summary Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a two‐step hoof sterilisation protocol consisting of povidone–iodine (PI) scrub followed by dry heat application in reducing bacterial contamination in equine hooves. Study design Ex vivo experimental study with limited clinical application. Sample population Nine cadaveric equine limbs and description of five clinical cases. Methods Hooves were frozen, thawed, rehydrated and recontaminated with faecal material to mimic in vivo clinical conditions. Core tissue samples were collected from the dorsal hoof wall (DHW), sole (SOL) and frog (FRG) at three timepoints: after recontamination (T0), after a 6‐min PI preparation (T1) and after 4‐min dry heat application at 200°C (T2). The effect of heat alone was evaluated in three additional limbs. Internal tissue temperature was monitored during heat application. Bacterial loads were quantified as log 10 CFU/g. Statistical analyses included Friedman tests and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests with Bonferroni correction. Results Bacterial counts decreased by 94.4% between T0 and T1 ( p < 0.001), 98.0% between T1 and T2 (p < 0.001), and by 99.9% between T0 and T2 ( p < 0.00001). Heat alone produced reductions of 98–99%; in the sole and frog responses were more variable. Internal tissue temperatures remained within physiological limits throughout the procedure. The two‐step protocol was applied in five clinical cases without complications or surgical site infections. Main limitations Ex vivo study design and limited clinical case numbers. Conclusion The sequential application of PI scrub and a controlled dry heat protocol substantially reduced bacterial contamination across all regions of this surgical site model while the temperature of live tissues remained within a physiological range.
Summary Background Anthelmintic resistance poses an increasing threat to equine health and welfare, making sustainable, evidence‐based parasite control essential. Effective helminth management requires integration of risk assessment, pasture management to reduce transmission and diagnostic testing to identify horses that require treatment. While these principles are widely promoted, there is limited empirical information describing how they interact at yard level. Objectives To investigate relationships between helminth infection risk, horse signalment, management practices and diagnostic outcomes and to assess how specific yard‐level management factors relate to parasite exposure/transmission. Study design Descriptive, cross‐sectional study of multiple equine premises. Methods Data were collected from 180 horses across five premises in southern England using owner/yard manager questionnaires to record horse demographics and management practices. Strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed in summer and autumn using a modified McMaster technique. In winter, serum and saliva antibody tests were conducted for cyathostomins and Anoplocephala perfoliata , respectively. Descriptive analyses compared test data between premises and management‐based risk categories and explored relationships with specific management practices. Results Substantial variation in FEC and parasite‐specific antibody levels was observed between premises, likely reflecting differences in infection pressure and management effectiveness. Diagnostic outcomes were significantly associated with premise‐level risk, dung removal (including removal frequency), harrowing and co‐grazing with nonequine species. Main limitations This study included only five premises in southern England, which may limit generalisability to wider equine populations. Reliance on owner‐reported data may have introduced misclassification and reporting bias. Conclusions Combining parasite test results with assessment of onsite management practices provided insights into factors associated with helminth infection risk. The findings of this descriptive analysis align with current UK parasite control recommendations and support the use of management strategies to reduce pasture contamination and parasite transmission on equine paddocks.
Summary A 7‐year‐old Quarter Horse gelding was presented for evaluation and treatment of a pulsion oesophageal diverticulum diagnosed 8 months earlier following repeated episodes of oesophageal obstruction. Diagnostic imaging—including cervical radiographs, ultrasound and endoscopy—was used to diagnose and evaluate the lesion and guide surgical planning. A diverticulectomy was successfully performed under standing sedation. The horse was able to be gradually reintroduced to hay beginning at 5 weeks post‐operatively, and owner follow‐up 1.5 years later revealed that the horse was eating hay with no further issues related to the oesophagus. Complications included mild leakage of feed material from the oesophageal repair immediately post‐operatively and left‐sided recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a pulsion oesophageal diverticulum successfully treated via a standing surgical repair in the horse.
Nonseptic tenosynovitis (NST) of digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is a common condition in horses, frequently associated with manica flexoria or deep digital flexor tendon tears. Tenosynovitis of the DFTS secondary to proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) injury is rare. This report described a case of NST of the DFTS caused by an abaxial fracture of lateral PSB in a 7-year-old mare used for showjumping. The mare presented with right hindlimb (RH) lameness following a field accident. Radiographic examination of the RH fetlock revealed an abaxial fracture of the plantarolateral margin of lateral PSB. Ultrasonographic examination confirmed the presence of moderate DFTS effusion with no concurrent intrathecal pathology. Due to the lack of improvement with conservative management, the horse underwent DFTS tenoscopy. During tenoscopy, a tear of the proximolateral aspect of the sheath wall communicating with the fracture bed was found at the junction between the proximal scutum and the plantar annular ligament. The bone fragment was removed and the torn fibres debrided. After 5 months of rehabilitation, the mare returned to the previous level of activity. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report detailing the management and outcome of DFTS tenosynovitis secondary to PSB fracture.
Summary Rhodococcus equi is an environmental bacterium related to pyogranulomatous infections in humans and animals. Horses, particularly foals, are the main domestic species susceptible; however, infections in adult equids are rare and usually linked to immunosuppression or debilitating conditions. The pathogenicity of R. equi is associated with plasmid‐encoded virulence‐associated proteins. Three host‐adapted virulence‐plasmid types (pVAPs) have been described: pVAPA, pVAPB and pVAPN, whose origin is associated with horses, pigs and ruminants, respectively. All types may infect humans, highlighting the zoonotic potential of the pathogen. However, data on virulence plasmids in R. equi isolates from mules are lacking. We report pneumonia‐related R. equi harbouring the pVAPA‐type plasmid in an adult mule presenting hepatic abnormalities, which may have favoured the infection. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pneumonia caused by R. equi in an adult mule, whose virulence‐plasmid pattern was identified as the pVAPA type. Moreover, the identification of R. equi harbouring pVAPA in a mule with pneumonia is relevant to human health because this virulent type has also been described in people with clinical rhodococcosis. Our report contributes to the understanding of the clinical and epidemiological aspects and virulence‐plasmid patterns of R. equi infections in mules.
Summary Recognition and assessment of pain in horses remain fundamental yet challenging aspects of equine clinical practice and welfare. Unlike human patients, horses cannot self‐report pain, requiring clinicians to rely on behavioural observation, physiological indicators and structured assessment tools. Over the past two decades, numerous pain scales and methodologies have been developed; however, inconsistent adoption in everyday practice persists due to complexity, training requirements and limited applicability across clinical contexts. The Havemeyer Working Group on Equine Pain Assessment convened international experts in equine medicine, anaesthesia, surgery, behaviour and welfare to evaluate current methodologies and establish a pathway toward standardisation. Two consensus meetings were held in Reykjavík (2022) and West Chester (2024). The first meeting reviewed existing approaches, including behavioural observation, facial expression analysis, ethogram‐based systems, composite pain scales, gait analysis, quantitative sensory testing and condition‐specific tools for foals, donkeys and postoperative or chronic pain. Participants concluded that no single method adequately captures the multidimensional nature of equine pain. The second meeting focused on practical implementation. Among available instruments, the Equine Pain Scale (EPS) was identified as the most feasible candidate for routine clinical use due to its brevity, multidimensional structure and demonstrated reliability across observers. The Working Group emphasised that successful implementation requires education, integration into electronic medical records and multicentre data collection rather than further proliferation of new scales. Overall, the consensus report highlights the need to treat pain assessment as a core clinical vital sign. Immediate adoption of standardised, practical scoring – particularly the EPS – combined with ongoing validation studies and emerging technologies such as automated video analysis represents the most effective strategy to improve equine welfare and clinical decision‐making.
Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is a disease caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. In this case series, five weanlings from the same breeding farm were diagnosed with EPE. They presented with fever (5/5), lethargy (3/5), tachycardia (3/5), anorexia (2/5), dehydration (2/5), decreased borborygmi (2/5) and rectal prolapse (1/5). All had hypoalbuminaemia, hypoproteinaemia and an increased small intestinal wall thickness on ultrasound. A presumptive diagnosis was based on faecal PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and IFA (Indirect Fluorescent Antibody test) of serum. The combination of faecal PCR and serology is suggested by literature for the most accurate diagnosis. Treatment consisted of tetracyclines, with a mean duration of 26 days-initially administered intravenously while hospitalised and continued orally after discharge. Two weanlings were euthanised due to poor response to treatment and complications. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case series describing an EPE outbreak in Scandinavian countries. The report describes clinical findings and treatment and discusses possible epidemiology and highlights EPE as a potential differential diagnosis for weanlings in Sweden.
Summary Testicular torsion is a rare condition in horses characterised by a change in the position of the testis due to the testicular mesentery twisting around its own axis; it can occur both when the testis is still in the abdominal cavity and when it has descended into the scrotum. Depending on the degree of rotation, this can lead to circulatory disturbances with vascular insult, ischaemia or haemorrhagic infarction. Torsion of an intra‐abdominal testicle can ultimately result in testicular atrophy or testicular regression and even clinical monorchism. Torsion of the scrotal testis may be accompanied by clinically significant local pain and colic symptoms. Torsion of the abdominal testis is often only detected incidentally during a cryptorchidectomy. In addition to primary testicular torsion, secondary testicular torsion resulting from an increase in testicular volume is of particular significance in the case of the abdominal testis.
