Summary: Reasons for performing study: Nutritional support in critically ill neonatal foals is of great importance given their high metabolic rate and minimal stores of energy and protein. Nutrient requirements of healthy growing foals have been estimated based on daily milk intake; however, little is known about the resting energy expenditure (REE) of sick foals. Objectives: To determine REE in critically ill neonatal foals (sepsis and/or hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy [HIE] and compare this with REE in control foals. Methods: Critically ill newborn foals admitted to the Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain from March 2009 to February 2011 were included in this study. Healthy neonatal foals and foals with nonsystemic conditions were used as controls. Oxygen consumption and CO ₂ production were measured with a respiratory monitor connected to a tight fitting facemask and REE (kcal/kg bwt/day) was calculated with the abbreviated Weir formula. Measurements were performed within 24 h of admission and repeatedly during hospitalisation. Results: Twenty‐seven foals were included (16 critically ill foals and 11 controls) and a total of 47 measurements were performed. In the critically ill, REE was reduced (mean ± s.e. 49.5 ± 2.1 kcal/kg bwt/day) on admission relative to the controls. In surviving foals (n = 5), REE before hospital discharge was not different (68.4 ± 7.0 kcal/kg bwt/day) from control foals (64.8 ± 2.7 kcal/kg bwt/day). Conclusions: REE was lower in critically ill foals upon admission (40–50 kcal/kg bwt/day) and normalised before hospital discharge (60–80 kcal/kg bwt/day). Potential relevance: Critically ill neonatal foals tolerating enteral feeding would receive approximately their REE when given 10% of their bodyweight in mare's milk daily. For sick neonates unable to tolerate enteral nutrition, provision of 50 kcal/kg bwt/day would be a reasonable goal for parenteral nutrition.

Background Comparisons between smartphone ECG (SpECG) recordings obtained from the right and left sides of the thorax have not been reported in animals. Objectives To evaluate the screening potential of a SpECG obtained from both sides of the thorax and to compare the degree of agreement between the SpECG and a reference ECG (rECG) for measurement of the duration of baseline electrical deflections recorded over both sides of the thorax. Animals Fifty horses admitted to the equine hospital, university‐owned horses, and horses from an endurance riding facility. Methods Prospective observational study. Simultaneous rECG and SpECG tracings were recorded on both sides of the thorax and evaluated by 2 experienced observers for interpretability, presence and classification of arrhythmias, and duration of deflections of the electrical baseline. Results Fifteen (15/50) horses had spontaneous arrhythmias. Excellent agreement was found between the 2 devices (κ = 0.91; P < .001; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79‐1.03) for the detection of arrhythmias. Significantly more P waves were of diagnostic quality from the right side (20 versus 5, P = .001) and significantly more QRS and QT intervals were of diagnostic quality from the left side (66 versus 38 and 62 versus 34, respectively, P < .001). Substantial agreement for the duration of deflections between devices only was observed for the QRS interval (SpECG left). Conclusions and Clinical Importance It is important to obtain SpECG tracings from both sides of the thorax in horses. The SpECG is a useful stall‐sidearrhythmia‐screening tool for some common arrhythmias in horses.

Occipital condylar fractures (OCFs) causing delayed onset lower cranial nerve paralysis (LCNPs) are rare. We present a 7-year-old Friesian horse with delayed onset dysphagia caused by vagus nerve (CNX) paralysis and suspicion of glossopharyngeal nerve (CNIX) paralysis developed several days after a minor head injury. Endoscopic examination revealed right laryngeal hemiplegia and intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate. An area of submucosal hemorrhage and bulging was appreciated over the dorsal aspect of the medial compartment of the right guttural pouch. Radiological examination of the proximal cervical region showed rotation of the atlas and the presence of a large bone fragment dorsal to the guttural pouches. Occipital condyle fracture with delayed onset cranial nerve paralysis was diagnosed. Delayed onset cranial nerve paralysis causing dysphagia might be a distinguishable sign of OCF in horses. Delayed onset dysphagia after head injury should prompt equine clinicians to evaluate the condition of the atlanto-occipital articulation and skull base.

Basilar skull fractures in horses can occur at any age, although young horses are particularly prone to this type of injury. This manuscript describes two foals with a basisphenoid bone fracture, with clinical presentations ranging from mild neurological signs up to severe neurological compromise. The absence of neurological signs does not exclude a fracture of this bone, as lethargy and retropharyngeal swelling may be the only clinical signs. Radiography can help define skeletal trauma involving the basilar region of the head, but superimposition of complex skull anatomy limits its use. Endoscopy of the guttural pouches region can be also helpful, but it does not provide enough evidence for a diagnosis. Thus, computed tomography is the optimal imaging technique for a rapid and straightforward diagnosis, as it is superior to radiography defining the type of fracture and the location of the fragments as well as the soft tissue involvement.

A six-year-old female goat was presented to the veterinary teaching hospital of the University of the West Indies with a history of progressive hind-limb paresis lasting two weeks. The doe developed a grade 6/6 holosystolic murmur during hospitalisation. Echocardiography revealed vegetative growths attached to cusps of the mitral and aortic valves. There was an accelerated aortic flow at 2.9 m/s and aortic insufficiency. The aortic vegetation was prolapsing into the left ventricle during diastole, causing it to contact the septal mitral valve leaflet. A diagnosis of mitral and aortic vegetative endocarditis, with a mitral kissing vegetation and mild aortic stenosis, was reached. The patient was placed on broad-spectrum antimicrobials. A short-term follow-up showed no resolution of clinical signs, and the animal eventually died. Post-mortem examination showed severe vegetative, fibrino-necrotic, aortic and mitral valve lesions. The goat also had a severe fibrino-suppurative mastitis. Histopathology confirmed the lesions to be vegetative endocarditis.