This week we went on a farm call to see a horse with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), or “heaves.” RAO is an inflammatory condition of the lower airways and is thought to be caused by inhaled antigens such as dust from food and bedding. Clinically, you could see coughing, exercise intolerance, increased respiratory rate and effort, flared nostrils and a double expiratory effort resulting in the characteristic “heaves line.” The most effective treatment for RAO is environmental change!
Case Highlight: Rhodococcus equi
A foal presented with a swollen stifle, no fever, and no loud moist crackles upon listening to its lungs. This foal was currently being treated medically, but treatment did not appear to be working. If you look at the x-ray, you can see darker areas on the patella as well as the trochlear ridge of the femur, in this case indicating bone lysis. The U/S also revealed gas bubbles under the skin, another sign of bacterial infection.
What could be the possible cause? Rhodococcus equi is a bacteria that is the most serious cause, although not the most common cause, of pneumonia in foals 1-6 months of age. Besides pneumonia, foals can also present with gastrointestinal issues and/or joint swelling. Rhodococcus equi is difficult to manage as it is ubiquitous in the soil and is also seen in the feces of horses and ruminants, thus providing vehicles for passive carriage.
Our foal presented with joint swelling and thus was taken to surgery to have the stifle flushed and some of the loose bone around the patella and femur debrided. A sample was taken for culture.
Lots of birthdays this week! My mother, Tundra and I all got a little older (and hopefully wiser!) this week. Happy Birthday to Us!
Hope you’re all having a lovely summer, time is flying!
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