The analgesic efficacy of meloxicam and ketoprofen against equine visceral pain is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of meloxicam (M) and ketoprofen (K) to flunixin meglumine (F) following inguinal castration. Horses undergoing inguinal castration under general anesthesia were randomly assigned F (1.1 mg/kg), M (0.6 mg/kg) or K (2.2 mg/kg) intravenously two hours pre-operatively and 24 h later. A pain score (out of 31) was recorded blindly by a senior clinician and veterinary student before NSAIDs administration (T0), and after the first (T1) and second (T2) administrations, using a modified post-abdominal surgery pain assessment scale (PASPAS). Pain was classified as mild (score ≤ 7), moderate (score = 8–14) or severe (score > 14). Thirty horses (12 F, 10 M, 8 K) aged 6.2 ± 4.9 years, mostly warmbloods, were included. Horse welfare was not compromised regardless of the drug assigned. There was no statistically significant effect of NSAIDs on pain score. Mean pain scores were significantly higher at T1 than T0 for each NSAID (F: 5.08 ± 2.50 vs. 1.58 ± 1.38 (p < 0.001); M: 4.60 ± 2.32 vs. 1.10 ± 1.20 (p < 0.001); K: 5.25 ± 1.39 vs. 1.50 ± 1.51 (p < 0.0001)) and lower at T2 than T1 for F (2.92 ± 2.423 vs. 5.08 ± 2.50 (p < 0.001)) and M (2.90 ± 1.37 vs. 4.60 ± 2.32 (p < 0.0325)). At T1, senior pain scores were significantly different than for junior (5.56 ± 0.54 vs. 3.22 ± 0.62, p = 0.005). This study indicates that meloxicam and ketoprofen provide a similar level of analgesia to flunixin meglumine for the management of mild visceral pain in horses. PASPAS is not reliable for junior evaluators.

Otitis media secondary to trigeminal nerve (CN-V) paralysis is described in dogs and humans but not in horses. An 18-month-old Quarter Horse colt was presented with history of mastication difficulties and a nonhealing corneal ulcer. Clinical findings were consistent with paralysis of the right CN-V. Computed tomography imaging showed otopathy media and a mass at the root of the CN-V. The colt was euthanised due to poor prognosis. Postmortem magnetic resonance imaging showed enlargement of the right CN-V which was slightly hyperintense on T2W. Histopathology of the mass revealed fusiform tumoural cells, positive on vimentin-and S100 immunohistochemistry, consistent with a schwannoma. Otitis media was presumed secondary to CN-V paralysis and denervation of the right tensor veli palatini muscle involved in opening of the Eustachian tube. This is the first case of trigeminal schwannoma and secondary otopathy media described in a horse, which highlights the importance of imaging in investigating trigeminal nerve paralysis.

Fungi detection in equine airways may be performed on either tracheal wash (TW) or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by either cytology or culture. However, method comparisons are sparse. The objective was to determine the prevalence of fungi in airways of horses with or without respiratory clinical signs, according to the sample site and laboratory methodology. Sixty-two adult horses, investigated in the field or referred for respiratory disease, were included.TW and BALF were collected from each lung separately through a videoendoscope. Fungi were detected by cytology and culture. Overall prevalence of fungi was of 91.9% in TW and 37.1% in BALF. Fungi were positively cultured from 82.3% TW and 20.9% BALF. Fungal elements were observed by cytology in 69.4% TW and 22.6% BALF. Prevalence of fungi was not significantly different between horses with or without clinical signs. In 50%of horses, the same fungi were detected in both TW and hay, but fungi detected in BALF and hay did not correspond for any horse. Poor agreement was found between TW and BALF and between culture and cytology (Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ) < .20). Moderate agreement was found between cytology of left/right lungs (κ = .47). The prevalence of fungi by cytology on pooled BALF was significantly different (p = .023) than on combined left + right BALF. A high prevalence of fungi was detected in the lower respiratory tract of horses, particularly in the TW. Hay might not be the primary source of fungi of the lower respiratory tract of horses.

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