Summary Reasons for performing study: A minority of equine colic cases prove fatal unless treated surgically; however, few studies have considered long‐term survival and complication rates, and few have attempted to identify factors that might affect outcomes. Such information is required for owners and veterinary surgeons to make informed decisions about the most appropriate treatment for individual cases. Objectives: To document short‐term survival rates of 300 horses undergoing colic surgery and analyse factors that might have predisposed to short‐term death. Methods: History, clinical and surgical findings, treatments and outcomes of 300 surgical colic cases (1994–2001) were reviewed. Comparisons among groups of discrete data were made using chi‐squared or Student's t tests as appropriate. Significance was set at P<0.05, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for percentages. Results: The short‐term survival rate (to discharge) was 70.3% for all horses and 83.1% for those recovering from anaesthesia; for horses that had a single laparotomy it was 87.2%. The most common reasons for death/euthanasia in the post operative period after a single laparotomy were persistent pain/colic, post operative ileus and grass sickness. Horses with lesions involving the small intestine and caecum had lower survival rates (75.2 and 66.7%, respectively) than those with large colon or small colon lesions (89.9 and 100%, respectively). The survival rate for ischaemic/strangulating lesions (68.9%) was lower than for simple obstructions (90.5%). Conclusions: Short‐term survival of horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for acute colic is dependent on many factors, including the nature of the underlying disease, cardiovascular status and post operative complications. Potential relevance: These retrospective studies may be used as a basis for prospective studies assessing treatments that could ultimately improve survival and decrease complication rates.

Summary The clinical records of 100 cases of headshaking in horses were reviewed. Possible causes of the abnormal behaviour were identified in 11 animals; these included ear mite infestation, otitis interna, cranial nerve dysfunction, cervical injury, ocular disease, guttural pouch mycosis, dental periapical osteitis and suspected vasomotor rhinitis. However, in only two of these could it be shown that correction of the abnormality led to elimination of the headshaking. The additional clinical signs exhibited by the other idiopathic cases of headshaking included evidence of nasal irritation, sneezing and snorting, nasal discharge, coughing and excessive lacrimation. Many of these horses also showed a marked seasonal pattern with respect to the onset of the disease and the recurrence of signs in subsequent years. The clinical presentation of idiopathic headshakers and the seasonal incidence of the signs closely resemble allergic rhinitis in man.

SummaryThe case records of 23 horses and one donkey affected by hypertrophic osteopathy (HO) (Marie's disease) were reviewed. All affected animals presented with limb swellings, which were bilaterally symmetrical and usually involved both fore-and hindlimbs. Associated signs included stiffnesdlameness and weight loss. Radiological features included perlosteal new bone formation over the diaphyses and metaphyses of affected bones. The metacarpal and metatarsal bones were most frequently affected. Articular surfaces remained free of disease. Seventeen animals were destroyed on humane grounds, 3 horses recovered after successful treatment of the primary disease, 3 horses recovered after symptomatic treatment and one horse was lost to follow-up. Significant primary diseases that were believed to predispose to HO were identified @re-or post mortem) in 14 cases.

Summary Thirty‐eight horses with confirmed thoracic neoplasia included 28 (37.7%) with lymphosarcoma, 4 (10.5%) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, 2 (5.3%) with primary lung carcinoma, 2 (5.3%) with secondary squamous cell carcinoma from the stomach, 1 (2.6%) with pleural mesothelioma, and 1 (2.6%) with malignant melanoma. The major clinical features included weight loss, inappetence, dyspnoea and coughing, but in cases of lung metastases, they related more to the primary site of tumour formation. Haematological and serum biochemical abnormalities were non‐specific. Specific pre‐mortem diagnosis was made in 14 horses; this was most readily achieved when exfoliated neoplastic cells were present in pleural fluid.