LEAD-POISONING, LARYNGEAL PARALYSIS AND PULMONARY HEMORRHAGE IN 2 HORSES

In the cases presented here the diagnosis of lead poisoning was made p ostmortem in two horses. The eliciting factor in both horses for the d evelopment of asphyxiation and pulmonary edema, which ultimately lead to death, was nervous excitement. The pathogenic mechanism to explain the influence of nervous excitement on the development of pulmonary ed ema would be sympathetic overstimulation and the release of vasoactive substances that cause pulmonary vascular hypertension and increased p ermeability of the pulmonary vasculature (a mechanism similar to what is hypothesized to cause neurogenic edema). The experience gained from these cases shows the importance of avoiding stressful situations in horses with bilateral laryngeal paralysis, and stresses the necessity of performing a permanent tracheostomy to prevent complications that c ould lead to death.