Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tracheal obstruction from tracheal collapse associated with pneumonia in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1992
- Authors:
- Fenger, C K & Kohn, C W
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 20-month-old Quarter Horse stallion was brought in because he was having trouble breathing, coughing in a honking way, and had bleeding from both nostrils. Tests showed he had pneumonia and a collapsed trachea (the windpipe), with a sample of fluid from his trachea revealing a lot of cells and some blood. X-rays and an endoscopy confirmed that his trachea was narrowed, and a specific bacteria called Streptococcus zooepidemicus was found in the fluid. After starting treatment with penicillin, his condition improved within four days, and he made a full recovery within a year. This case suggests that tracheal collapse, usually seen in older horses, can sometimes be caused by inflammation from pneumonia and may be treatable.
Abstract
A 20-month-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted for evaluation of labored breathing, honking cough, and bilateral epistaxis that were caused by pneumonia and collapsed trachea. A transtracheal aspiration revealed highly cellular, serosanguineous fluid. Radiography revealed a patchy alveolar pattern and a narrowed tracheal lumen. Endoscopy confirmed narrowing of the tracheal lumen. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated on culture of the transtracheal aspirate. The horse responded to penicillin treatment, and the tracheal collapse improved endoscopically after 4 days, with complete recovery within 1 year. Tracheal collapse has been reported to be a disease of older horses associated with degenerative cartilage. The findings in the horse of this report suggested that tracheal collapse may result from inflammation secondary to pneumonia and, therefore, may be reversible.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1624350/