Category: Miscellaneous

𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 is characterized by 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, meaning proliferation of bone on the outside of existing bones. This proliferation affects the long bones of the limbs primarily.

𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚 are an orange-brown area of 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 (cell death) on the 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐚 (outer, clear layer of the eye). They can be 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 (well defined borders) or more “fuzzy” looking. Typically only one eye is affected, however both eyes can be affected either at the same time or at different times.

𝐅𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 is when a piece of 𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 (the main component of the discs between our spinal vertebrae) breaks off and enters the blood stream. From there, it forms an 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐬, or a foreign material in the blood, which can block blood flow.

BSE is a disease of 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, which are small proteins found primarily in nervous tissue. The exact function of these little proteins is unknown, however they can have big effects when they are 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐝 (change in shape).

𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐣𝐚𝐰 or more scientifically known as 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲, is a disease where the bones of the jaw and skull proliferate, causing enlargement and an irregular surface. Interestingly, the enlargement is usually 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 (affecting both sides of the head equally).

𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐬 are mineralized rocks that can be found in the colon of horses. They are typically made up of 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞, and can weigh up to 10kg!! They typically have a smooth, spherical appearance.

𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 is the specific term for excessive fibrosis (scar tissue) in the liver, with production of lots of nodules of regenerated liver tissue.

𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 refers to a specific pattern we can see in the liver at necropsy, where the liver takes on the appearance of a nutmeg’s cut surface. This is a very characteristic sign of 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, however does not tell you much about the actual cause of the congestion.

Aortic thromboembolism is when there is a blood clot that obstructs part of the aorta. In particular, this type of thrombus tends to lodge where the aorta splits into two arteries to run down each hind leg, an area referred to as the 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞.

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is a condition of the lungs in horses, which is similar to human asthma. In this disease, the airways are sensitive to allergens, causing them to constrict and prevent airflow through the lung. In chronic cases, the airways may also become obstructed by overproduction of mucus, or thickening of the airway walls.