Term
| Common spinal diseases of performance horses |
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Definition
1. Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM)
2. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)
3. Neuroaxonal Dystrophy/Equine degenerative myelopathy (NAD/EDM)**
4. Herpesvirus myeloencephalitis
5. Trauma |
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Term
| Impact of spinal disease on performance horses |
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Definition
-trauma and CVCM are first and second most frequently diagnosed causes of acute recumbency and cervical spinal cord disease in the world
-EPM may affect up to 10% of performance horses and accounts for 25% of spinal cord dz in some areas of the country |
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Term
| Etiologies of spinal disease |
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Definition
-trauma
-CVCM-spinal compression due to developmental malformation or instability
-EPM-Sarcosystis neurone (95%!)or Neospora (5%)
-NAD_EDM-progressive axonal loss, genetic and nutritional factors (vit E)
-Herpesvirus myeloencephalitis-EHV-1 |
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Term
| Breed and age prediliction for spinal disease |
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Definition
-CVM-weanlings-2 yr, RB, WB
-EPM-65% < 4 years
-NAD/EDM-weanling to 2 yrs
-Herpesvirus myeloenaphalitis-adults, pregnant mares |
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Term
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Definition
-CVCM-guarded, sx may improve 50% 2 grades a few 3 grades mu only by 1 grade
-EPM-fair
-NAD/EDM-poor
-Herp-good in non-mutated form guarded in mutant Herpes form |
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Term
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Definition
-multifactorial: breed, fast growth, familial/genetic, exercise/trauma, diet (inc: proteins, CHO, insulin, zinc; dec: thyroxine, Cu)
-Breed: TB, TW, WB, QU
-Gender: geldings, intact males >>>females
-Age: younger (months to 4 years); adults (8 yr) |
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Term
**KNOW FOR EXAM:
Myelopathy |
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Definition
-Type I: dynamic
-intermittent compression
-instability
-younger horses
-C3-4, C4-5
-Type 2: Static or stenotic
-constant compression
-osteoarthritis, trauma
-adults
-C5-6, C6-7 |
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Term
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Definition
-may be slowly progressive or acute associated with trauma
-symmetrical UMN signs to all four: ataxia, weakness, difficulty backing
-pelvic limbs often 1 grade worse
-may have stiffness with neck flexion to one/both sides
-proprioceptive deficits
-during circling: circumduction, interference, pivoting, knuckling, neck flexion
-weakness: tail pull, dragging toes |
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Term
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Definition
-Rads-standing cervical rads
-stenosis, subluxation, malformation, osteoarthritis
-saggital ration=minimal saggital diameter divided by width of vertebral body should be: >50% cranially, >52% in caudal cervical canal
-myelogram |
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Term
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Definition
-diet
-rest: paced growth diet (foals <6 months)
-antiinflammatories: NSAIDs; intra-articular steroids (pain); methylpred acetate
-articular supplements: Glycosamine, chondroitin
-antioxidants (Vit E, Selenium)
-Basket surgery (per Dr. F, if greater than 1 basket-> not great outcome) |
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Term
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Definition
-foals: cranial cervical and caudal thoracic vertebrae
-adult horses: injury to caudal cervical vertebrae common
-dx: clinical signs, hx, and PE to localize lesion
-Clinical signs: peracute
-C1-T2: tetraparesis to recumbency
-T3-L6: horse may dog-sit
-Sacral fractures
-urinary and fecal incontinence |
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Term
| Spinal cord trauma in horses |
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Definition
-dx: rads
-rad: adults: cervical spine; foals: entire spine
-may need myelogram |
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Term
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Definition
-Phenylbutazone
-DMSO
-Glucocorticoids
-Mannitol |
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Term
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Definition
-progressive neuroaxonal dystrophy
-epidemiology:
-young, growing horses
-many different breeds reported
-clusters of cases can occur on a single farm
-usually benign before 6 months of age
*note: certain families of horses in dirt paddocks without access to grass and feeding processed pellets (heated) or sun baked forages suggest a Vit E deficiency and underlying familial predisposition |
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Term
| NAD/EDM Pathogenesis/Clin signs |
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Definition
-Path: alpha tocopherol concentrations play role
-there is a strong famlial predisposition
-lesions most prominent mid-thoracic region
-Clinical signs: symmetric ataxia, paresis and hypometria, +/- panniculus |
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Term
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Definition
-Dx: rule out other dzs, Vit E deficiency supportive but normal does not exlude it, typically younger horses
-prognosis=poor |
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Term
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Definition
-No specific tx
-Vit E supplementation does NOT improve affected cases but may prevent new cases on some farms if given to preg mares and foals during 1st year of life
-dietary modification of unaffected animals-fresh grass or other roughage |
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