9. How to diagnose different upper airway disorders in horses

Question 1

Congenital-developmental disorders of upper airways:

Answer 1

Choanal atresia = no airflow to the nostrils

Question 2

For upper airway diseases, we take patient history, what is included in this?

Answer 2

1. Age
2. Breed
3. Housing
4. Type of work
5. Signs

Question 3

Why is age important in upper airway diseases?

Answer 3

1. Congenital development disorders
2. Bacteria and viral diseases will be more evident

Question 4

Why is breed important in upper airway diseases?

Answer 4

Some breeds are more prone to diseases.

• Recurrent laryngeal neuropathy

Question 5

Why is housing important in upper airway diseases?

Answer 5

Indoor housing has an association with allergic conditions

Question 6

Why is signs important in upper airway diseases?

Answer 6

Could be:
1. Acute/chronic
2. Unilateral or bilateral discharge
3. exercise intolerance: race horses, sport horses

Question 7

Name common diseases of upper airways:

Answer 7

1. Sinusitis
2. Rhinitis
3. Guttural pouch empyema
4. Pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia
5. Strangles

Question 8

What is rhinitits?

Answer 8

Infection of the nasal passage, independent of the sinuses

Question 9

Viral causes of rhinitis:

Answer 9

Equine influenza
Equine herpesvirus
Equine rhinovirus

Question 10

Fungal causes of rhinits:

Answer 10

Aspergillus spp
Cryptococcus spp

Question 11

Treamtent of rhinitis:

Answer 11

Systemic or local

Fungal: figure out how it got there, change hay, bedding etc

Question 12

What is sinusitis?

Answer 12

Inflammation and swelling of the sinuses

Question 13

Causes of primary sinusitis:

Answer 13

Fungal
Bacterial

Question 14

Causes of secondary sinusitis:

Answer 14

1. Dental diseases
2. Neoplasia
3. Trauma
4. Sinus cysts

Question 15

Name the sinuses

Answer 15

A = Frontal sinuses
B1 = Caudal maxillary sinuses
B2 = Rostral maxillary sinuses

Question 16

Treatment of sinusitis:

Answer 16

1. Flush
2. Antibiotics
3. Debridement (=removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue)

Question 17

What is guttural pouch empyema?

Answer 17

Bacterial infection of the guttural pouch, most commonly streptrococcus equi

Question 18

Signs of guttural pouch empyema:

Answer 18

1. Chronic nasal discharge
2. Parotid enlargement
3. Increased respiratory noise

Question 19

Treatment of guttural pouch empyema:

Answer 19

If its streptococcus equi it is very contaigious!!

1. Remove exudate with flush
2. Sedate - low head position
3. Local antibiotics (penicillin together with gelatin)

Question 20

What is pharyngeal lympoid hyperplasia?

Answer 20

Chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal lymphoid

Question 21

Cause of pharyngeal lympoid hyperplasia:

Answer 21

Multifactoral

1. Viral: Influenza
2. Bacterial: streptococcus equi

Question 22

Signs of pharyngeal lympoid hyperplasia:

Answer 22

1. Nasal discharge
2. Enlarged lymphnodes
3. Coughing
4. Poor performance

Question 23

Treatment of pharyngeal lympoid hyperplasia:

Answer 23

1. Mild cases -> reduced training
2. Anti-inflammatory therapy: dexamethasone

Question 24

What is strangles?

Answer 24

contagious infection

Question 25

Signs of strangles:

Answer 25

1. Bilateral nasal discharge
2. Enlarged lymphnodes
3. Affected horses may stand with a stretched neck
4. Swollen/painful throatlatch

Question 26

Treatment of strangles:

Answer 26

1. Supportive care
2. NSAIDs: flunixin, phenylbutazone
3. AB - depending on the stage of the disease
4. Early clinical signs, no abscess - penicillin for 5 days
5. abscess formation - AB is contraindicated
   6.

Question 27

complications of strangles:

Answer 27

1. Abscess formation in the mesentery
2. Guttural pouch empyema
3. Septicaemia
4. CNS disease