More sensitive markers of renal dysfunction are required in equine neonates as an accurate assessment of renal function is currently limited. Clinical signs are not relied upon for the diagnosis of renal compromise in adults or foals. Signs include weakness, recumbency and inadequate nursing, and as such are indistinguishable from other neonatal conditions, such septicaemia and hypoxic-ischaemic syndrome. 1 Furthermore, once clinical signs are apparent, significant renal damage has already

The aim of this study is to report cases of caecal dysfunction following surgical procedures in the standing horse. The study design is retrospective. Six client‐owned horses developed caecal dysfunction following a variety of surgical procedures undertaken in the standing sedated horse. Medical records were reviewed for caecal dysfunctions that had occurred in horses within 2 weeks of standing surgical procedures. Signalment, details of the original standing surgery and medications administered were recorded. Short‐term outcome was obtained from clinical records. Long‐term outcome was obtained by telephone questionnaire with the owner. Six horses were identified to have developed caecal dysfunction following standing surgery for tooth extraction, laparoscopic ovariectomy, laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy, fracture repair, melanoma removal and castration. Three horses were euthanised with caecal perforation at the time of diagnosis. Three underwent surgical treatment (typhlotomy, decompression and caecal bypass by ileocolostomy). All three horses were alive post‐operatively (follow‐up at 2, 12 and 24 months). Caecal dysfunction may develop following surgical procedures performed under standing sedation. Careful post‐operative monitoring and early identification of caecal dysfunction, and consequent potential need for surgical intervention, are important to optimise outcomes and minimise the risk of fatal caecal perforation occurring.

Renal disease can be pre-, intrinsic or post-renal in origin, with pre-renal disease being the most common and generally straightforward to correct if the primary problem can be addressed. Intrinsic renal disease is relatively rare in the horse overall. Nephrotoxic drugs have been thought to be the most common cause of intrinsic renal disease, but their clinical significance is now being questioned. Treatment options are usually supportive, with intravenous fluid therapy being the mainstay. Dialysis is becoming more common, although it is still a rare treatment.

Chronic kidney disease is a rare disease in horses, unlike humans and companion animals where it is frequently encountered. There are multiple causes, although, since the disease typically presents late in the disease process, the instigating factor is often not ascertained. Clinical signs most commonly include weight loss, ventral oedema and polyuria-polydipsia. There is a need for more sensitive markers of renal damage or dysfunction so that the disease can be detected earlier in its course. Serum symmetric dimethylarginine and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin are potential biomarkers that are being investigated in this regard. Currently, once the diagnosis has been made, treatment is supportive only, with no options to halt the progression of the disease. Although this is a terminal condition, horses can be maintained with an adequate quality of life for several years after diagnosis in some cases.

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