This is the first study that rigorously describes a large population of equids affected by tetanus. The information provided is potentially useful to clinicians for early recognition and case management of tetanus in adult horses and foals. Tetanus affects multiple organ systems, requiring broad supportive and intensive care. Neonatal and adult tetanus in the horse should be considered as distinct syndromes, as in human medicine.

Four cases in cattle of omental herniation through an acquired omental rent are described. Clinical signs were indistinguishable from other causes of mechanical ileus and exploratory laparotomy was necessary to establish a diagnosis. In all cases a variably sized portion of jejunal loops was obstructed in an omental rent in the deep layer of the greater omentum. In two cases simple reduction was possible, and in one case incision of the hernial ring was necessary before reduction could be performed. Resection was necessary only in a calf, in which the incarceration was complicated by severe abomasal distension and local peritonitis. In all four cases the omental rent was closed by a serosa-serosa suture. Three cases made an uneventful recovery and returned to normal production, but one of these animals died three months postoperatively from an unknown cause. The calf was euthanased two days postoperatively because of persistent ileus.

Summary An 18‐year‐old Warmblood gelding was presented with a recent, abrupt onset of ataxia. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was performed and revealed a delayed response in both thoracic and pelvic limbs. Radiographic examination of the cervical region demonstrated osteolytic lesions in the vertebral body and arch of the third cervical vertebra (C3). A cervical myelogram revealed spinal cord swelling in this region on the lateral projection. Computed tomographic (CT) myelography was performed, which showed osteolytic lesions and circumferential thinning of the contrast column due to extra‐dural compression at the cranial cervical region. These findings were compatible with an aggressive bone lesion compressing the spinal cord. Primary or secondary neoplasia and osteomyelitis were considered in the differential diagnosis. Because of the severity of the findings and poor prognosis, the horse underwent euthanasia. Post mortem histopathological diagnosis was a haemangiosarcoma involving the cranial cervical vertebrae and epidural space. This report demonstrates the additional value of CT myelography on the extent and exact location of cervical vertebral compressive lesions in the horse. This information can be useful for prognosis, biopsy and/or planned surgery of these lesions.

Little information is available on medical imaging of the adrenal glands in horses. We investigated the feasibility of transrectal ultrasonography to characterize the normal equine adrenal gland. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed in 25 healthy horses using a 7.5 MHz linear array probe at a displayed depth of 8 cm. Transrectal ultrasonography of the right adrenal gland was not feasible. For the left adrenal gland, the left kidney, the abdominal aorta, the left renal artery, the left renal vein, and the cranial mesenteric artery were used as landmarks. The size of the left adrenal gland was variable, but it generally appeared as a long, flat structure with a hyperechoic medulla surrounded by a hypoechoic cortex. The most cranial part of the gland could not be delineated appropriately in 11 horses (44%). The mean (+/-SD) thickness of the gland and medulla was 0.66 +/- 0.15cm (n = 25) and 0.28 +/- 0.09 cm (n = 25) near the caudal pole, 0.87 +/- 0.25 cm (n = 14) and 0.40 +/- 0.18 cm (n = 12) near the cranial pole, and 0.89 +/- 0.18 cm (n = 25) and 0.36 +/- 0.13 cm (n = 25) in the middle of the gland, respectively. The mean (+/-SD) length of the entire adrenal gland and of the medulla was 6.22 +/- 0.77 cm (n = 14) and 5.45 +/- 0.71 cm (n = 6), respectively. Transrectal ultrasonography allowed adequate visualization of the left adrenal gland in horses.

Background It is highly desirable to assess the probability of survival in sick neonatal foals upon admission. The foal survival score (FSS) is a published scoring system used to estimate the probability of survival in hospitalized neonatal foals <4 days old. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate the ability of the FSS to predict survival in older foals from a geographically different area compared to the original study. Animals Five‐hundred ninety hospitalized neonatal foals ≤14 days of age. Methods Retrospective Danish‐Swedish multicenter study that included details of signalment, history, clinical examination, laboratory results, necropsy findings, and outcome. Scores and score variables were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors using logistic regression. The optimal cutoff and its test parameters were calculated using a receiver operator characteristic curve. Results Prematurity, cold extremities, ≥2 infectious or inflammatory sites, blood glucose concentration, and total white blood cell counts were significantly associated with nonsurvival ( P ≤ .02). The optimal cutoff to predict survival was ≥6, resulting in sensitivity 78%, specificity 58%, 92% positive predictive value, and 31% negative predictive value. The test performed equally well in foals <4 days old compared to those 4‐14 days old. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Using the suggested optimal cutoff of ≥6, the FSS performed moderately well and may aid in early determination of prognosis for survival. However, the FSS did perform differently in another population and therefore should be assessed under local conditions so that its diagnostic potential is not overestimated.

Prognosis for equine tetanus is poor with similar outcome and prognostic factors in foals and adults. The prognostic assessment of cases with tetanus provides clinicians with new evidence-based information related to patient management. Several prognostic indicators relate to the ability to eat or drink, and more severe clinical signs relate to poor outcome. Increasing intravenous dosages of TAT has no significant effect on outcome, but the positive trend identified may support a recommendation for high intravenous TAT dosages. Further evaluation is warranted.

Background Serum amyloid A (SAA) has been reported to hold promise as diagnostic and prognostic marker in foals. This has not been investigated thoroughly. Objectives Evaluate admission SAA concentrations as predictor of sepsis and outcome. Animals Five hundred and ninety hospitalized foals <14 days old. Methods Retrospective multicenter study. Foals were scored with sepsis and survival scores, grouped according to health category (septic, sick but nonseptic, uncertain sepsis status) and outcome; septic foals were further categorized according to severity (normal sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock). SAA was compared between groups using Mann‐Whitney test and Kruskal‐Wallis test. Receiver operating characteristic curves identified optimal SAA cut off values for detecting sepsis and predicting outcome. Results Admission SAA concentrations differed significantly between sick nonseptic foals (312.1 ± 685.4 mg/L) and septic foals (1079.7 ± 1254.5 mg/L) and increased with increasing sepsis score. SAA did not differ between sepsis severity groups. The optimal cut off for sepsis detection was 1050 mg/L (sensitivity 30.2%, specificity 90.7%). Admission SAA concentrations were lower in surviving (435.0 ± 723.6 mg/L) compared to nonsurviving foals (1062.7 ± 1440.1 mg/L) and decreased with increasing survival score. The optimal cut off for nonsurvival prediction was 1250 mg/L (sensitivity 22.1%, specificity 90.8%). Conclusions and Clinical Importance SAA concentration was higher in septic foals and nonsurviving foals. Even though optimal cut offs for SAA to detect sepsis and predict outcome had low sensitivity, they had good specificity. SAA can therefore be used as a marker to rule out sepsis and nonsurvival.

This case report describes the clinical presentation, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of a 4‐year‐old gelding presented with severe polyuria and polydipsia. The horse was diagnosed with central diabetes insipidus. After diagnosis, different therapeutic regimens with intraocular desmopressin acetate (Minirin, Ferring GmbH, Kiel, Germany) (a synthetic arginine vasopressin analog) were tested, but without success. Only the subcutaneous injection of desmopressin acetate (Minirin, Ferring GmbH) led to an increase in urine specific gravity and a decrease in water intake and urine output. Daily subcutaneous treatment with desmopressin acetate (Minirin, Ferring GmbH) was initiated and maintained for at least 5 years. The horse did not develop adverse effects or re‐occurrence of the initial complaints. This case report describes successful long‐term treatment of central diabetes insipidus in a horse.