‘Zebra’ cardiology: What happens when horses don’t read the textbook

Cardiology in the horse is simple!! You only need to be able to recognise five pathological conditions…mitral, tricuspid and aortic regurgitation, ventricular septal defect and atrial fibrillation and be able to differentiate these from variations of normal. Largely these statements are true…The conditions listed above are certainly the most common disorders found. Deciding their significance regarding safety for ridden work or suitability for purchase is, however, more challenging. This session will focus on some of the rarer manifestations of cardiac disease in the horse. A logical approach utilising standard tests performed in the more common manifestations of cardiac disease such as resting and exercising electrocardiography and echocardiography often allow a diagnosis to be made (although the underlying aetiology may not be identified) and therapeutic monitoring to be performed. Various presentations can be seen with these rarer conditions and include diagnosis of murmurs or dysrhythmias at routine evaluation, poor performance, collapse at rest and exercise and heart failure. They may also mimic abdominal pain ...