Ocular abnormalities in a herd of Old Kladruber Horses: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To screen a closed herd of the Old Kladruber Horses (OKH) for the prevalence of ocular disorders and report normal ocular variations. ANIMALS STUDIED: Two hundred and sixty-one horses, 122 Old Kladruber Gray Horses, and 139 Old Kladruber Black Horses owned by the National Stud Farm Kladruby nad Labem, Czech Republic, were included in the study with signalment and pedigree information recorded. PROCEDURES: Bilateral ocular examination of manually restrained horses was performed in a darkened environment by a single examiner (RA), using a portable slit-lamp biomicroscope, direct ophthalmoscope, and monocular indirect ophthalmoscopy using a Finnoff transilluminator and 20 D condensing lens. Fluorescein testing was performed when indicated. RESULTS: The animal ages ranged from 3 months to 27 years (mean 7.82 years, median 6 years). The gender ratio (males:females) was 109:152. Ophthalmological abnormalities were found in 133 (50.96%) horses; with right and left eyes affected equally. The most common abnormalities were cataract formation (35 horses), iris hyperpigmentation (29 horses), alterations in corpora nigra size (26 horses), nonsenile vitreal degeneration (24 horses), linear keratopathy (11 horses), corneal stromal haze (nine horses) and corneal subepithelial punctate opacities (nine horses). The most frequent variations of normal ocular anatomy were posterior lenticular suture lines (222 horses), tapetal hypoplasia (95 horses) resulting in a multi-colored tapetal fundus (31 horses), nuclear sclerosis (48 horses), and senile vitreal degeneration (30 horses). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular disorders were relatively common in OKH, but typically not vision threatening and not interfering with the quality of life.

Trans-endoscopic diode laser fenestration of equine conchae via contralateral nostril approach.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and report preliminary outcomes of a contralateral trans-nasal endoscopic laser fenestration of the conchae for endoscopic examination and treatment of paranasal sinuses in horses. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric experimental and prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Normal cadaveric equine heads (n = 7) and equine patients (horses n = 7, donkey n = 1) diagnosed with sinusitis. METHODS: Ex vivo: a video-endoscope containing a diode laser fiber in the working canal was passed through the nostril and retroflexed in the nasopharynx toward the contralateral conchae. Ventral or dorsal conchae were fenestrated. Duration of surgery, laser energy, visualization quality, and feasibility of sinoscopy through the fenestrations were recorded. In vivo: sinus drainage, sinoscopy 24 hours postoperatively, stoma persistence, and clinical results after 3 months were evaluated in 8 patients. RESULTS: Fenestrations were performed in 8 dorsal conchae (6 cadavers, 2 patients), 10 ventral conchae (5 cadavers, 5 patients), and 1 dorsal conchal bulla (1 patient). Visualization was good in 6 patients and affected by bleeding in 2 patients. Drainage through the fenestrations was observed in all patients. Trans-nasal sinoscopy was possible in all cadavers and in 6 out of 8 patients. Masses inside the sinuses precluded sinoscopy in 2 patients. Stomata persisted until discharge of the patients (mean of 14 days). Clinical signs improved in 6/8 patients. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic approach reported here provides good visualization during the trans-endoscopic laser fenestration of the conchae. The fenestrations may allow a trans-nasal sinoscopic examination and treatment in selected cases of sinusitis in horses.

Single-Chamber Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation in a Donkey with Complete AV Block: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

A five-month-old African jenny was presented with a history of exercise intolerance and syncopal episodes. Severe bradycardic arrhythmia due to a high-grade second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block with progression to complete AV block was diagnosed. The jenny underwent a transvenous single-chamber pacemaker implantation. The implantation procedure was performed in a lateral recumbency and the ventricular lead was inserted through the jugular vein. Positioning of the lead was guided by echocardiography. The pacemaker was programmed to VVI mode with a minimal ventricular rate of 40 pulses per minute, a pulse amplitude of 2.4 V, a pulse width of 0.5 ms and sensing amplitude of 2.5 mV. Short-term complications associated with the procedure included lead dislodgement and pacemaker pocket infection. The long-term outcome was satisfactory; the jenny showed improvement in heart function and quality of life after pacemaker implantation. The pulse generator replacement was performed twice (at nine-year intervals) and the intervention was always associated with a local inflammatory reaction around the pacing device. Cardiac examination 18 years after pacemaker implantation revealed no morphological changes in the heart; the electrode lead was still in the correct position and successful pacing and sensing of the ventricle were obtained. Regular follow-up checks are important to evaluate pacemaker function.