Page 716 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

Respir atory system: 3.4 Medical conditions of the lower respir atory tr act 691

VetBooks.ir 3.146 3.147

Fig. 3.146 Aspiration pneumonia in a foal. The Fig. 3.147 Aspiration pneumonia in an adult horse.
ventral (dependent) accessory and middle lung lobes are The horse presented 2 days after an episode of choke
consolidated. An alveolar pattern obscures the caudal with a fever and lethargy. Thoracic radiographs reveal
vena cava, heart and diaphragm. Note the presence of a an alveolar pattern with silhouette signs obscuring the
radiopaque feeding tube in the oesophagus. dorsal and caudal heart borders and caudal vena cava.

Fig. 3.148 Thoracic ultrasonography reveals loss 3.148
of normal pleural surface in the caudoventral lung
field. The uniformly hypoechoic lung at the tip of
the yellow arrow is suggestive of consolidated lung
parenchyma. Hyperechoic ‘B-line’ comet tails are
present at the border of aerated and non-aerated lung.
Red arrows indicate the border of the diaphragm.

Additional therapy with metronidazole is often used
if an anaerobic infection is suspected.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
are indicated to control inflammation and pain if
kidney function is normal. Other treatments of
bacterial pneumonia may include moderate i/v fluid complications such as pulmonary abscessation and/or
administration to hydrate respiratory secretions extension of the infection into the pleural space occur.
to facilitate clearance from the respiratory tract.
Prolonged rest from strenuous exercise is critical. BACTERIAL PLEURITIS/
Treatment failure or relapse may occur if the dura- PLEUROPNEUMONIA
tion of medical treatment and adequate rest are not
enforced. Definition/overview
Bacterial colonisation of the pulmonary parenchyma
Prognosis can result in pneumonia and/or pulmonary abscess
The prognosis is good if uncomplicated cases are man- formation. Extension of the infection and inflamma-
aged promptly with adequate antimicrobial therapy tory process to the pleural space results in pleuritis
and rest. The prognosis may dramatically change if or pleuropneumonia.