Acquired epilepsy in a horse associated with colic surgery

Abstract

Literature is sparse about seizures in adult horses and this affection often carries a poor prognosis for further riding or athletic use. The authors present a case of an adult horse showing recurrent focal seizures and neurological deficits indicative of central blindness occurring during an episode of colic which was resolved surgically. Clinical signs occurred soon after an episode of colic, then resolved by laparotomy with an uneventful general anaesthesia. The investigations undertaken to find the cause of the seizures concluded finally a tentative diagnosis of a cortical lesion associated with amaurosis due to possible brain hypoxia and/or trauma. The outcome of the presented case was satisfactory, as four months later on a control examination no further seizures had been reported, most neurological deficits had disappeared and vision had at least partially been restored.

Mortality and morbidity in equine anaesthesia

“…One report describes the unexpected occurrence of focal seizures and permanent central blindness in an adult horse after abdominal surgery without any complications noticed during anaesthesia maintenance (Rovel et al 2015).…”