Clinical diagnosis of disorders of the equine nasal cavities and sinuses

The equine nasal cavity and associated paranasal sinuses are subject to a variety of disorders that primarily cause nasal airflow disorders or unilateral nasal discharge. Nasal paralysis, “false nostril flutter” and alar fold collapse can all cause loud respiratory noise production during exercise and these noises must be differentiated from each other, and also from noises caused by significant nasopharyngeal and laryngeal airflow obstructions. Most nasal haemorrhage (epistaxis) is not nasal in origin and when it occurs, most traumatic nasal and sinus epistaxis is self limiting. Progressive ethmoid haematoma lesions can be suspected by the chronicity and low grade, unilateral nature of the epistaxis and then confirmed endoscopically. Most unilateral purulent nasal discharge in ...