This clinical case describes a 14-year-old Gypsy Cob gelding presented for suspected impaired vision. Given the apparently insidious presentation, bilateral equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) was strongly suspected. ERU management was addressed both clinically and from a welfare point of view. Treatment using ointment was preferred to eye drops to reduce the frequency of administration. Clicker training was used to facilitate treatment administration by eliciting positive emotions. In response to the progressive bilateral blindness, social and physical environments and new relational practices were adapted to reduce stress on the pony by increasing predictability and controllability of his situation. This case is to our knowledge the first to include detailed welfare management strategies as a part of a more comprehensive medical approach to ERU. † A. de Boyer des Roches and X. Peyrecave-Capo are equally contributing authors (co-first authors).

BackgroundHuman autologous serum (AS) and umbilical cord serum (UCS) both contain growth and neurotrophic factors that promote corneal healing.AimOur objectives were to compare equine AS and UCS cytokine and growth factor profiles and to assess the safety and clinical feasibility of the therapeutic use of UCS eye drops in cases of spontaneous complex ulcers.Study DesignProspective clinical trial.MethodsVitamin A insulin growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 concentrations were determined in 10 AS collected from different horses and 10 UCS sampled at delivery. Six client-owned horses presenting with complex non-healing corneal defects of >5 mm2 were included in a clinical trial and treated with conventional therapy and conditioned UCS drops for 8–15 days. Ulcer surface and time to complete epithelialization were recorded.ResultsMedian concentrations of vitamin A, insulin growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB were not significantly different in AS compared with UCS (respectively, 14.5 vs. 12.05 μg/ml; 107.8 vs. 107.3 pg/ml; and 369.1 vs. 924.2 pg/ml). TGF-β1 median concentration in UCS was significantly higher than in AS (3,245 vs. 2571pg/ml) (p = 0.04). IL-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 concentrations were variable in AS and undetectable in UCS. The corneal median ulcerative area was 37.2 mm2 (6.28–57.14 mm2) and had a duration of 4–186 days (median 19 days). All lesions healed within 13–42 days (median 17 days). No adverse effects nor recurrences within 1 month were noticed.LimitationsThe sample size was small. Spontaneous corneal epithelial defects presented with variable clinical characteristics. There were no age-matched control horses to assess corneal healing time and rate.Conclusion and Clinical SignificanceEquine UCS may be beneficial, as it contains no pro-inflammatory cytokines and a greater concentration of TGF-β1 compared with AS. Topical UCS appears safe and may potentially be used as adjunctive therapy for equine complex non-healing ulcers.

Summary A 17‐year‐old cross‐bred pony gelding was presented for acute onset of respiratory distress and an inspiratory honking noise. He had been previously diagnosed with moderate mastocytic equine asthma and chronic tracheal collapse on endoscopy (grade 3/4). At admission, predominantly inspiratory dyspnoea with open mouth breathing, hypoxaemia and hypercapnia were present. Cervical and thoracic radiographs showed severe tracheal collapse from the mid‐cervical region to the thoracic inlet and a moderate generalised bronchial pattern. Due to the poor prognosis, euthanasia was elected. On post‐mortem examination, some granulomatous nodules compatible with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica were present in the tracheal lumen, and the entire trachea was laterally flattened. This uncommon laterolateral collapse was more severe at the thoracic inlet and in the mid‐cervical area, where a peritracheal haematoma was detected. A blunt trauma that exacerbated the tracheal collapse was suspected. Tracheal histology revealed degenerative changes. Degeneration of tracheal cartilage and connective tissue can be a predisposing factor to chronic collapse and recurrent episodes of inspiratory and expiratory distress. It is unknown whether chronic tracheal collapse is an independent condition or a consequence of an underlying lung disease.