RECURRENT LАRINGEAL NEUROPATHY IN HORSES – CLINICAL FEATURES AND DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH

Abstract

The present study included 18 horses with respiratory problems expressed in breathless and stridors (wheezing, snoring). Endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract confirmed a left sided laryngeal neuropathy as follow: twelve horses II Grade, four horses III Grade, two horses complete paralysis (IV Grade). Ten horses were diagnosed with the following concomitant abnormalities: dorsal displacement of the soft palate (three horses), entrapment of the epiglottis (two horses), rostral dislocation of the palatopharyngeal arch (two horses), and the presence of blood in the trachea (three horses). The clinical parameters: internal body temperature, heart and respiratory rate, color of visible mucous membranes, capillary time were within normal limits. The blood parameters (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, leukocytes, DBC, erythrocyte indices, total protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, creatinine, urea, GGT, Alkaline Phosphatase) showed no deviations from physiological range.