The air sacs of horses are part of the upper respiratory tract. They develop in foals as a mucous membrane protrusion on both sides of the Eustachian tube (the connection between the middle ear and the nasopharyngeal cavity), each with a capacity of approximately 300 ml. Air sacs are found exclusively in equines and some other odd-toed ungulates, making them a unique feature. There are various theories about the function of the air sacs. The most likely is that they serve to cool the brain. There is a connection between the horse's throat and the air sacs, which is why infections of the upper respiratory tract can also spread to the air sacs. The most important diseases of the air sacs are described below.
Inflammation of the air sacs often occurs as a result of a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract or bacterial throat infections such as strangles (see article on strangles). Injuries or the direct penetration of feed particles or fungi can also cause air sac inflammation. Purulent inflammation occurs very frequently, especially after the rupture of abscessed lymph nodes in the laryngeal folds in cases of strangles. This is followed by the accumulation of pus in the air sacs, sometimes in large quantities. This is referred to as air sac empyema.
The clinical picture can vary depending on the extent of the inflammation and the type of underlying disease. The general condition may be disturbed and the body temperature may be slightly elevated. Air sac inflammation is often accompanied by increased unilateral, intermittent nasal discharge with a foul odor. The affected air sac can swell significantly, leading to difficulty swallowing and breathing. In some horses, air sac swelling can also be felt from the outside.
The veterinarian can usually diagnose air sac inflammation based on the clinical symptoms and the patient's medical history. To confirm the diagnosis, further examination with an endoscope is always recommended. This allows the air sacs to be examined and treated very effectively. As the examination is not straightforward, it is advisable to have it carried out at a clinic.
To treat the condition, the veterinarian flushes the inflamed air sac with a catheter. In the case of bacterial infections, additional antibiotic therapy should be administered. If there is very solid inflammatory material in the air sac that cannot be flushed out, surgical intervention may be necessary. To allow any secretions to drain better, it is recommended to soak and feed the animal from the floor several times after starting treatment.
Air sac mycosis is an infection of the air sac with mold fungi and is one of the most feared fungal diseases in horses. The colonization with fungi can occur on one or both sides and remain symptom-free for a long time. However, once the fungal cells penetrate the mucous membrane, dangerous vascular damage or brain nerve paralysis can occur. Without any prior signs, this can suddenly lead to severe bleeding from one nostril, which can cause the horse to bleed to death if left untreated. Paralysis of the larynx and vocal cords is also possible.
However, diagnosing air sac mycosis is not always easy. The disease can only be diagnosed endoscopically once fungal deposits have formed inside the air sac. If vascular damage has already occurred, blood may also be detected. However, both of these symptoms may be absent despite infection, which makes diagnosis considerably more difficult.
Fungal infection of the air sac can generally be treated either with antifungal medication administered directly into the air sac via irrigation or surgically. Surgery includes conventional and minimally invasive procedures. An important step in the treatment of air sac mycosis has been achieved by ligating the main vessel that runs through the air sac. This prevents the fungus from entering the vessel and causing life-threatening bleeding. In addition, the fungus is deprived of its nutrient supply, preventing it from growing. Thanks to these modern treatment methods, the risks of a vessel rupture can now be significantly reduced.
Air sac tympany is a relatively rare condition that mainly affects foals and young horses. Air flows into the air sac but cannot escape, causing excessive air to accumulate in one or both air sacs. Air sac tympany is often associated with air sac empyema.
The cause and exact mechanism of development remain unclear. In foals, the condition is due to a malformation of the Eustachian tube. A hereditary predisposition to this malformation has been demonstrated in Arabians and warmbloods. The air sac expands to such an extent that the ganasche is clearly visible from the outside and the narrowing of the airways leads to severe breathing difficulties, coughing, and swallowing disorders, which can even result in aspiration pneumonia (= pneumonia).
The veterinarian can usually make a suspected diagnosis based on the typical clinical picture. The diagnosis can be confirmed with the help of a further endoscopic examination. At the same time, most of the air can be released during the endoscopy. In some cases, it may also be advisable to take X-rays. Air sac tympany can be treated successfully either by conventional surgery under general anesthesia or, more recently, by minimally invasive laser surgery on a standing horse, with a significantly better prognosis after laser surgery.
Neoplasms of the mammary gland account for more than half of all cancers in female dogs. These benign or malignant tumors occur primarily in older, unspayed female dogs and initially appear as small, nodular changes along the entire mammary gland, which can later become very large. Different types of mammary tumors can occur.
Most horse owners are now familiar with Cushing's syndrome and its symptoms in horses. A disease with very similar symptoms is equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). In its early stages, it is therefore often confused with equine Cushing's syndrome. But what is the difference?
This infectious disease, medically known as foal septicemia, is often fatal and affects newborn foals up to 4 weeks of age. The pathogens enter the bloodstream in various ways and can spread throughout the entire organism. However, the disease most commonly manifests itself in the joints, which is why it is colloquially known as foal paralysis.
Dogs and cats can go blind for various reasons. However, this does not mean "the end" for our beloved four-legged friends. Dogs and cats in particular, who live together with us humans, are very good at compensating for their loss of sight with other senses and can continue to lead almost normal lives.
The tendons are part of the musculoskeletal system and act as the connecting links between the muscles and the skeleton. They consist of strong, flexible tissue, transfer energy from the muscles to the bones, and thus enable targeted movement. Their special structure, consisting of parallel connective tissue fibers grouped together in bundles, gives them enormous tensile strength and elasticity. The flexor tendons of the front legs are particularly exposed to extreme stress in horses, as more than half of the body weight has to be carried by the forehand. Tendon damage is one of the most common causes of lameness, especially in sport horses. In most cases, the structures affected on the front leg are the superficial flexor tendon, the deep flexor tendon, the suspensory ligament, and the fetlock joint (see diagram). As there are very few nerves and blood vessels in the tendon tissue, healing is very slow.
Myiasis is the medical term for fly maggot infestation in rabbits, which occurs primarily in the warm summer months and in injured or weakened animals. The disease is often underestimated, but can be life-threatening for rabbits.
Sticker's sarcoma is an infectious tumor of the external genital organs of male and female dogs. It is also known as transmissible venereal tumor or venereal sarcomatosis. The disease occurs worldwide, but is primarily found in tropical and subtropical countries (Mediterranean region, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America) where there is a large population of stray dogs.
Botulism is a serious neurological disease caused by the ingestion of botulinum toxin (a poison) from contaminated feed. Even the smallest amounts of this toxin can cause severe poisoning in horses, leading to death.
Spondylosis is a condition characterized by deformation of the spine. It involves the formation of bony growths resembling spurs or bridges on the underside, sides, or, rarely, the top of the vertebral bodies. It primarily affects large, heavy dog breeds such as the German Boxer, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, St. Bernard, and Retriever, as well as dogs with long backs, such as the Dachshund. However, the condition can also occur in all other dog breeds.
The topic of deworming is a recurring discussion among horse owners. For anyone wondering whether it is necessary to deworm their horse, the answer is yes. Anyone who has ever seen how vast numbers of worms can completely block parts of the small or large intestine during colic surgery will no longer ask this question. Without treatment, worm infestation can become life-threatening for horses. Initially, a noticeable increase in tail rubbing may be an indication of this. As the infestation progresses, internal organs can be damaged and colic can occur. The horse loses weight despite being fed adequately. The parasites weaken the horse more and more. Regular deworming is necessary to reduce the infestation to a level that is tolerable for the horse's organism. It is almost impossible to completely rid the horse of worms, as new infections will always occur through the environment. There are two methods of deworming: strategic and selective deworming. You should avoid alternative deworming methods.
Endoscopy is an imaging, minimally invasive procedure in which body cavities and hollow organs can be viewed and examined using an endoscope. Endoscopes are either rigid or flexible and have a light source and a camera at the front that transmits the image directly to a screen.
Imaging diagnostics refers to all diagnostic procedures that use diagnostic devices to generate two- or even three-dimensional images of the inside of the body. These images can be used to detect disease-related changes, among other things.
