This is a rare condition seen in foals. One of the first signs noted by the owners is that when the foal suckles milk runs out of its nose. They are also very prone to developing pneumonia. Surgery is possible in some cases although it is not for the faint hearted and the success rate is not good.

The image shows a severe cleft palate involving both the hard and soft palate in a two week old Shire foal. The camera (scope) has been placed into the foals mouth. You can see the tongue its teeth and a massive defect in the palate all the way back so you can look into the nasal chambers at the same time!

This is not a recent case. At the time it was decided that surgery was not an option and just to wait and see how the foal progressed. The foal is now a two year old colt and we are pleased (and surprised) to say that it is growing well and in good condition. The next problem is that it is a rig!

Bone chips (developmental) are quite a common finding in fetlock joints. They do not often cause lameness but can be a hinderance when a client wishes to sell an animal. They can have a detrimental effect on the animal’s value and there is always that question of whether the horse will be more prone to arthritis as the horse ages or there is an increase in workload.  

The first images is a front fetlock radiograph from a recent case. This Dressage horse had a chip in this front and also one hind fetlock. The V is marking the chip.  These were removed arthroscopically. The second image shows the arthroscopic view of the bone fragment and the third its removal with a pair of rongeurs.

Colic (abdominal pain) as a result of ileocaecal obstruction is not uncommon particularly in young animals. The obstruction is at an anatomically already narrowed area where the small intestine meets with the caecum and large intestine. Causes for thickening and narrowing of this area are not always apparent but there is an association with tapeworms and the irritation that they cause at this site. Once ingesta has difficulty passing through this junction, the small intestine starts to distend and so cause pain. Treatment for this condition is surgical (as well as getting rid of any tapeworms). An alternative route is created for the passage of food so by passing the ileocaecal junction.

The images show a recent case. The first picture shows the distended small intestine as a result of the obstruction. In this case as we were emptying all this fluid from the gut a tape worm emerged! (second picture). The third picture shows the stapling instrument used to create the bypass.  

These injuries and usually as a result of wire or metal. The horse gets one forelimb stuck through a fence or partition and pulls back in an attempt to free the limb, the wire/metal then cuts deep into the soft tissues across or just above the bulbs of the heel. Such injuries often result in some laceration to the deep digital flexor tendon. The wounds are usually quite contaminated with surrounding bruised and compromised tissue. Most of these injuries respond remarkably well to a foot cast. This is usually applied a couple of days after the initial injury and the cast is kept on for a minimum of three weeks depending on wound severity.

The first three images show a typical case. The first picture shows the wound after it has been cleaned and debrided as much as possible, the second shows the foot in its cast and the third the appearance of the wound four weeks later.

We have an ongoing case at present with such an injury but rather more severe than usual. The wound went so deep that it completely cut through a section of the deep digital flexor tendon and into the navicular bursa. This bursa became septic as did the adjacent coffin joint. The fourth image (radiograph) is of this foot. Contrast material (appears dense and white) has been injected into the navicular bursa from the side of the foot and can be seen to exit through the back. This shows that there is communication between the navicular bursa and the outside of the foot. The prognosis for this case is extremely guarded but we are persevering at present as the horse is walking sound having been in its present cast for two weeks.

Injuries to the front of the mouth and incisor teeth are not uncommon. They usually result from the horse having grabbed hold of an object (eg bars across the front of a stable), got their teeth caught, panicked and jerked backwards. The first two images show a typical injury and as you can see these are very amenable to being repaired with wire.

Images three and four are a recent case of a much less common type of injury to this area. This was a yearling which we think fell onto the front of its mouth whilst in its stable. As you can see the central two incisors with a large piece of surrounding bone were pushed backwards into the horses mouth. These teeth could not be saved and were removed with the adjacent bone. The fourth image shows the result immediately after surgery. The teeth that were lost were temporary teeth along with one permanent incisor that had not yet erupted. All being well when this horse is mature it should only be lacking one incisor.  

Ovarian (Granulosa cell tumours) are uncommon but well recognised in mares. Mares with such a condition usually suffer from behavioural abnormalities particularly stallion like behaviour due to changes in their hormonal status. The advent of laparoscopy (camera into the abdomen) and a specialised instrument for sealing large blood vessels means that nowadays these tumours can usually be removed from the horse under standing sedation and not general anaesthesia. This is much better for the patient (shorter recovery time) and surgeon (wounds smaller, heal better with less complications).

These images show such a case. The first picture shows the laparoscopy in progress. The second shows an image seen through the laparoscope (the forceps are grasping the tumour/ovary which is about to be removed through the flank). The third image shows the removed enlarged ovary and the last shows how well the body wall is healing six days after surgery.

It is very easy to cause serious injury to the lower limbs and tail by application of bandages that are too tight. The blood supply can become compromised within a few hours. This is a such a  case. The blood supply had been irreversibly damaged, the whole of the tail suffering from dry gangrene.

This horse underwent surgery, the tail was removed under standing sedation and with epidural anaesthesia. Recovery was uneventful. The main disadvantage for this horse now is that he has no tail to swish away flies during the coming  Summer months.

Image one. Appearance before surgery.
Image two. Appearance after surgery.