Standing MRI lesions of the distal interphalangeal joint and podotrochlear apparatus occur with a high frequency in warmblood horses.

Foot pain is a common presenting complaint in Warmblood horses. The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to determine the spectrum of foot lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Warmblood horses used for dressage, jumping, and eventing. The medical records of 550 Warmblood horses with foot pain that were scanned using standing MRI were reviewed and the following data were recorded: signalment, occupation, lameness, diagnostic analgesia, imaging results, treatments, and follow-up assessments. Associations between standing MRI lesions and chronic lameness following treatment were tested. Abnormalities of the navicular bone (409 horses, 74%), distal interphalangeal joint (362 horses, 65%), and deep digital flexor (DDF) tendon (260 horses, 47%) occurred with the highest frequency. The following abnormalities were significantly associated (P < .05) with chronic lameness following conservative therapy: moderate to severe MRI lesions in the trabecular bone of the navicular bone, mild or severe erosions of the flexor surface of the navicular bone, moderate sagittal/parasagittal DDF tendinopathies, and moderate collateral sesamoidean desmopathies. Also, identification of concurrent lesions of the DDF tendon, navicular bone, navicular bursa, and distal sesamoidean impar ligament was associated with chronic lameness after conservative therapy. Development of effective treatment options for foot lesions that respond poorly to conservative therapy is necessary.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of ovarian morphology and blood flow in prepubertal and pubertal cats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasonographic changes of feline ovaries before and during puberty. Nine, 3-month-old female cats were followed until puberty (Day 1). Two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound evaluations of the ovaries were carried out on Days -50, -20, -7 and 1. Longitudinal and transverse sections of the ovaries were measured and all anechoic spherical structures were considered to be follicles. The number of follicles >1 mm and the maximum diameter of the largest follicle were recorded. Peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity of intraovarian arteries were also measured to automatically calculate the resistive index (RI). The mean ovarian longitudinal diameter increased gradually throughout the study from 8.6 to 10.7 mm (p < 0.05). While four cats presented multiple anechoic spherical structures <1 mm diameter throughout the study, the remaining five animals had these structures only on Days -50 and -20. On Days -20, -7 and 1, the mean number of follicles were 1.4 ± 0.7, 2.5 ± 0.8 and 4.8 ± 1 respectively (p < 0.01). The largest follicles at the same time points were 1.1 ± 0.2 mm, 1.9 ± 0.3 mm and 2.6 ± 0.5 mm respectively (p < 0.05). The RI of the intraovarian arteries declined throughout the study period (p < 0.01). It is concluded that, in female cats, ovarian dimensions, follicle number and intraovarian blood flow increased from 3 months of age to puberty.