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  Discussion on Problems after surgery
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New Member:
italia

Posted on Thursday, Dec 13, 2007 - 5:13 pm:

Hello all,
I'm about to be given a 4 year old trotter who had throat surgery done earlier this year. It's been said that something went wrong with the surgery and the horse can't race anymore. I've seen him shortly after surgery and he had water and food running out of his nostrils while eating and drinking and was coughing a lot, too. Also no more voice. They started riding him lightly recently and he's roaring after about ten minutes of light trotting work, but doesn't seem in distress. He's otherwise very healthy looking when out in his paddock, playing, running without any problems. He's not being ridden anywhere near collection, since he's just being started. Is there any information on these "gone-wrong" surgeries, what is to be expected, how much can this horse do, what would I have to watch out for (respiratory diseases maybe). Currently I have nobody to ask, and the vet who performed the surgery would not give me any unbiased answers. I couldn't even find out what has gone wrong during surgery. There are four other horses of this breeder/trainer who had surgery done, four of them are racing again, although without voice. Thank You for any information
Robert
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 14, 2007 - 6:33 am:

Hello Robert,
Without knowing what was done and how it failed we can only guess. If this is simply a failed tie back (laryngoplasty) procedure, consider the horse as a laryngeal hemiplegia and the course and prognosis of this disease is discussed in detail at Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Laryngeal Hemiplegia. Even though the surgery has failed the complications of the surgery are still possible and they too are discussed in the article.

To make real progress on what is going on you need to have the horse scoped so the larynx can be examined.
DrO
Member:
italia

Posted on Sunday, Dec 16, 2007 - 4:54 pm:

Hello Dr.O,
I had a chance to ask the owner of the horse now. She said the original tie back surgery was successful, but the palate is now paralized. He was scoped again after surgery, and the vet stated that the horse was only fit for light riding now. I have no intention whatsoever to race him again or work him hard. Light riding is what we do. I just would like to know what to watch out for in daily management. For example no pelleted feed to avoid choke and so on. And is there any prophylactic measures? Something along the line of keeping him outside, wet hay, avoid dust in general and such things?
And I'm wondering if management has anything to do with a horse getting these problems. In being there for four years, I saw four foal crops being born (among them also this horse)and most of them going into work. I noticed that every foal crop has cough/runny noses when very little and nothing is being done about it "because the mama's have it". Could there be a connection?
Thank You again
Robert
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Dec 17, 2007 - 7:24 am:

Robert, I am uncertain what is meant by a "paralyzed soft palate" as I have not heard of such a diagnosis. Did she mean it was "displaced dorsally" or was she confusing it with the paralyzed arytenoid? My recommendation would be to discuss the diagnosis with the veterinarian who did the last exam and find out what has been done and what are the most current findings. Write it down carefully. In the meantime, until we learn more about what is happening, most of the management suggestions you make are logical and what we would recommend for any horse with the exception of avoiding pelleted feed. I see no problem with pellets and if you are worried about choke or swallowing they could be moistened.

Besides exercise intolerance, the big concern with a dysfunctional pharyngeal area is aspiration of food into the respiratory system. Coughing, rapid respiration, and fever would be the important signs of problems related to such a condition.
DrO
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