Summary Reasons for performing study: Contamination and infection of synovial cavities are a common occurrence in clinical practice and, if inadequately treated, may have career or life threatening consequences for affected horses. Hypothesis: The objectives in treating contamination and infection of joints, tendon sheaths and bursae are most effectively met by endoscopic surgery. Methods: Over a 6 year period, cases of synovial contamination and infection admitted to a referral clinic were evaluated and treated endoscopically. The horses received local and systemic antimicrobial drugs with minimal nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory medication but no other medical or surgical treatment. All arthroscope and instrument portals and, when ever possible, all traumatic wounds were closed. Diagnostic information, endoscopic observations and results of treatment were evaluated retrospectively. Results: A total of 140 affected animals were referred and 121 cases were treated endoscopically. These involved 70 joints, 29 tendon sheaths, 10 bursae and in 12 cases a combination of synovial cavities. The most common aetiologies were open wounds (n = 54) and self‐sealing punctures (n = 41). Foreign material was identified endoscopically in 41 but predicted prior to surgery in only 6 cases. Osteochondral lesions were evident at surgery in 51 and recognised before surgery in 25 cases; 32 horses had intrathecal tendon or ligament defects. Follow‐up information was obtained for 118 animals; 106 (90%) survived and 96 (81%) returned to their preoperative level of performance. The presence of osteitis/osteomyelitis, other osteochondral lesions and marked deposits of pannus were associated with nonsurvival. For those animals which survived, non‐Thoroughbred horses, a combination of synovial structure involvement and regional i.v. antimicrobial administration were associated with reduced post operative performance. Marked pannus, regional i.v. antimicrobial administration and duration of systemic antimicrobial administration were associated with a group combining nonsurviving animals and those with reduced post operative performance. Conclusions: Endoscopic surgery makes a valuable contribution to the management of synovial contamination and infection. Potential relevance: The information obtained from and therapeutic options offered by endoscopy justify its early use in cases of synovial contamination and infection.

SummaryA case control study was performed to identify risk factors f o r colic caused by simple colonic obstruction and distension (SCOD) in the horse. Case horses were recruited from 2 v e t e r i n a ry school clinics. Control horses were population based and matched by time of year. A n u m b e r of risk factors w e re considered in the following areas: general care r a n d p remises information; exercise information; husbandry information (housing-and pasture -related); feeding information; breeding information; behavioural information; travel information; preventive medicine information and p revious medical information. All variables with a P value of <0.2 in the univariable analysis were considered for p o s s i b l e inclusion in a multivariable model. A final model, pro d u c e d by a forward stepwise method, identified crib-biting or windsucking, an increasing number of hours spent in a stable, a recent change in a re g u l a re x e rcise programme, the absence of administration of an ivermectin or m o x i d e c t i n anthelmintic in the previous 12 months and a history of travel in the previous 24 h as associated with a significantly i n c reased risk of SCOD. An alternative final model, pro d u c e d by a backwards elimination method, identified the same variables as the forward model with, in addition, a history of residing on the current establishment for less than 6 months, a history of a previous colic episode and the fewer times per y e a r the teeth were checked/treated as associated with a significantly increased risk of SCOD. T h ree of the risk factors in this model were associated with a large increase in risk: stabling for 24 h/day, crib-biting/windsucking and travel in the previous 24 h. IntroductionPrevious epidemiological studies have identified risk factors associated with the development of colic in the horse (Tinker et al. 1994(Tinker et al. , 1997Cohen et al. 1995Cohen et al. , 1999Cohen and Peloso 1996;Reeves et al. 1996;Kaneene et al. 1997;Hillyer et al. 2001;Traub-Dargatz et al. 2001). In particular, they attempted to identify management or alterable risk factors, knowledge of which should allow a reduction in the colic incidence in the overall horse population. These previous studies have often produced conflicting results in respect of the impact of individual risk factors. This may be a result of differences in the study designs of the previous reports and their regional distribution (Reeves 1997). However, it has been suggested that differences may result from the use of equine colic, of any type, as a general disease outcome rather than a more specific diagnosis (Reeves et al. 1996). There has only been one recent epidemiological investigation of a specific colic diagnosis but this study compared the diagnosis of enterolithiasis with other cases of colic rather than the background horse population (Cohen et al. 2000). The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors in comparison to the general horse population for the occurrence of a more specific type of colic. Materi...

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 The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of colic in horses in Thoroughbred training premises in 1997 in the British Isles. The seasonal pattern and outcome of colic episodes were also investigated, together with any association between premises level variables and colic. Data were collected by a postal questionnaire. The results showed a colic incidence density of 7.19/100 horse years (s.e. 0.42) and a cumulative incidence of colic of 5.80% (s.e. 0.30). Premises were grouped according to whether they had more Flat than National Hunt horses (Flat premises) or more National Hunt than Flat horses (NH premises). A similar rate of colic episodes was found in each group. However, significantly higher cumulative incidences of one episode of colic were found in the Flat premises and of multiple episodes in the NH premises, respectively. The outcome of each episode of colic showed spontaneous recovery in 28.7%, medical recovery in 63.1%, surgical recovery in 2.0% and death in 6.2% of cases. This indicated an overall mortality rate from colic of 0.45 deaths/100 horse years. The seasonal pattern of episodes of colic showed a spring and autumn peak, with significant differences in the seasonal pattern between the Flat and NH premises. Relative risk analysis and logistic regression modelling with random effects showed significant associations between the number of episodes of colic and the number of horses on the premises (allowing for the number of horses on each premises, the larger premises had a decreased risk of colic). After adjusting for the number of horses, 3 other variables were associated with colic; Flat premises (with an increased risk), the owner being the sole person looking after the horses (a decreased risk) and the premises being a combined training and breeding establishment (a decreased risk).

This retrospective study was conducted in the UK and identifies the most frequent causes, diagnoses, treatment and prognoses for short- and long-term survival in 54 cases of horses with haemoperitoneum. Clinical signs of haemorrhagic shock and colic were common, and abdominal ultrasound was very useful for the identification of haemoperitoneum. Causes of haemoperitoneum included uterine injury (22 per cent), involvement of specific blood vessels (20 per cent), splenic injury (19 per cent), neoplasia (13 per cent) and other (4 per cent). No source was identified in 22 per cent of cases. Fifty-seven per cent of cases underwent exploratory laparotomy. Of the surgical cases, a diagnosis was made in 65 per cent, with 42 per cent surviving to discharge. It was felt that exploratory laparotomy had both diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Twenty-eight per cent of cases died, and 33 per cent were euthanased, whereas 39 per cent survived to be discharged from the hospital, with 35 per cent of these surviving in the long term. Idiopathic haemoperitoneum was associated with the best outcome for long-term survival.