Wind speed is the first significant atmospheric risk factor to be identified for DSA formation in the horse. The importance of environmental variance in the incidence of DSA indicates that the pathogenesis of DSA formation may be multifactorial, interdependent and provides support in some horses for the micropuncture hypothesis of DSA formation related to the involvement of environmental conditions causing precorneal tear film and epithelial damage.

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Objective: To describe clinical findings and visual outcomes of the fungal plaque form of equine keratomycosis. Design: Retrospective medical records study. Animals studied: Medical records of horses with the fungal plaque form of keratomycosis that presented to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center from 2001 to 2013 were reviewed. Procedures: Data collected for all horses with corneal fungal plaques at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center from 2001 to 2013 included photographs at various points during treatment, and the signalment and clinical description of ocular lesions, medical and surgical treatments, diagnostic test results, and therapeutic outcomes from medical records. Diagnosis of the plaque form of keratomycosis was based on the clinical appearance in addition to cytology and/or histologic results. Results: Twenty-two horses with keratomycosis with fungal plaques were identified. Corneal scraping found septate hyphae in all 22 eyes. Thirteen eyes (59.1%) had positive fungal culture results from the plaque. Dematiaceous fungi (n=3), Fusarium and Scopulariopsis (n=3), Aspergillus sp (n=4) and unidentified fungi or molds (n=4) were cultured from fungal plaques. Thirty-two percent (n=7) of the eyes cultured had bacterial infections in addition to the fungal infection. Fungi alone were cultured in six eyes (27.3%). Bacteria only were cultured in 6 eyes (27.3%). Culture did not reveal positive bacterial or fungal presence in three (13.7%) plaques. Medical therapy was utilized in all twenty two horses. Ninety-one percent (n=20 horses) of the horses were treated with at least one topical antifungal and at least one topical antibiotic, while one horse was treated with only topical antifungals and one horse was treated with only topical antibiotics. Nine of the horses received one topical antifungal medication and twelve received a combination of two topical antifungal medications with natamycin and either miconazole or voriconazole being the most common combination. Topical antiproteases and mydriatic/cyloplegics, and systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were used in all horses. Ninety-one percent (n=20 horses) received surgical intervention of some form with 68% (n=15 horses) receiving at least one standing keratectomy and 23% (n=5 horses) receiving a superficial keratectomy under general anesthesia. Mean time to resolution was 6.5±4.1 weeks. Following medical and surgical therapy, 73% (n=16) of the eyes were visual and 27% (n=6 horses) were enucleated. The mean time to resolution of horses in which vision was preserved was 7.5±3.6 weeks. Conclusions:The visual outcome of therapy of 22 horses with the dark fungal plaque form of keratomycosis was positive in 73%. Successful treatment of the fungal plaque form of keratomycosis was aided by plaque removal, usually hastened by performing one or more keratectomies, and concurrent successful management of corneal ulceration and accompanying uveitis.

OBJECTIVE Complications of feeding tube placement are uncommon, but life-threatening pneumothorax has been reported in human and veterinary patients during feeding tube placement. This article describes the development of pneumothorax and the outcome associated with misplacement of nasogastric (NG) tubes in the tracheobronchial tree in 13 dogs. ANIMALS 13 dogs being treated for various medical conditions that had NG tubes placed in 4 hospitals. PROCEDURES A review was carried out of the medical records of 13 dogs that developed pneumothorax after misplacement of NG tubes between 2017 and 2022. RESULTS 14 dogs out of 4,777 (0.3%) developed pneumothorax as an adverse effect of NG tube misplacement in the tracheobronchial tree. One dog was excluded due to incomplete medical records. The feeding tube size ranged from 5F to 10F, and the most common tubes utilized were polyurethane tubes with flushing stylets. Nine out of 13 dogs developed evidence of respiratory compromise after the NG tube was placed. Eleven dogs required thoracocentesis, and 5 dogs had thoracostomy tubes placed. Five dogs suffered cardiopulmonary arrest after developing pneumothorax, with 3 of 5 undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Two out of 3 dogs that underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation were discharged from the hospital. Five of 13 dogs were successfully discharged from the hospital, while 5 dogs died or were euthanized because of the pneumothorax. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Pneumothorax is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of NG tube placement in dogs and may lead to death if not immediately addressed. Practitioners should be aware of this complication and be ready to perform thoracocentesis quickly if appropriate.