Case series: Persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate in eight horses

Abstract

Summary Persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (pDDSP) is a relatively rare equine disorder. This case series reports histories and clinical findings in 8 cases of pDDSP, and outcome after treatment of concurrent epiglottic entrapment (n = 3), laryngeal tie‐forward (n = 6) ± laser staphylectomy (n = 2), and/or sectioning of mucosa ventral to the epiglottis and the hyoepiglotticus muscles (n = 2). Four of 6 horses that underwent tie‐forward ± laser staphylectomy had complete resolution of pDDSP and returned to their previous level of work, as did one horse that had a subepiglottic releasing incision. Correction of concurrent epiglottic entrapment in 3 horses with pDDSP did not result in resolution of pDDSP in any case. Previous laryngeal surgery including laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy appear to be risk factors for the development of pDDSP.