Infections in the Equine Abdomen and Pelvis: Perirectal Abscesses, Umbilical Infections, and Peritonitis

Surgical drainage and post operative lavage of large abdominal abscesses in six mature horses

“…1991; Aleman et al . 2003; Elce 2006). Abscesses have been reported in association with the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, kidney, spleen, uterus, bladder, gastrointestinal tract and abdominal wall, with or without adhesions to multiple structures.…”

“…Presenting clinical signs can be variable and sometimes vague, but frequently include colic, fever, weight loss, depression and anorexia (Zicker et al . 1990; Elce 2006; Arnold et al . 2010); some horses may have a history of a recent respiratory infection or subcutaneous abscesses.…”

Carcinoma of an accessory genital gland in a 23‐year‐oldCamargue gelding

“…injection in the gluteal region (Sanders‐Shamis ; Magee et al . ; Torkelson ; Elce ). Melanomas and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common forms of perineal and peri‐rectal neoplasia in the horse (Wilson ; Freeman ).…”

Abdominal abscesses in horses

“…Abdominal abscesses occur uncommonly in horses and are divided into 2 groups (Arnold and Chaffin ). A primary abscess originates from a systemic bacterial infection and is often caused by Corynebacterium sp., Streptococcus equi , Rhodococcus equi or Escherichia coli (Elce ; Arnold and Chaffin ; Berlin et al . ).…”

“…Clinical signs displayed by a horse with an abdominal abscess are usually nonspecific and may include, inappetence, lethargy, weight‐loss, recurrent colic, and fever. Likewise, findings of clinical pathological examination are also aspecific but consistent with the presence of inflammation, and include hyperfibrinogenaemia, hyperglobulinaemia, neutrophilia and, occasionally, hyperproteinaemia (Elce ; Pusterla et al . ; Arnold and Chaffin ; Berlin et al .…”