DISCOSPONDYLITIS IN AN ADULT HORSE

Discospondylitis, of presumed bacterial origin, was diagnosed in an ad ult thoroughbred racehorse. The clinical signs were vague and associat ed with abnormal mobility of the neck and forelimbs. Clinical patholog y showed only a non-specific inflammatory response, A scintigraphic ex amination revealed the site of the lesion and the diagnosis was confir med by the identification of radiographic changes affecting two thorac ic vertebrae. A prolonged course of antimicrobial agents produced a co mplete recovery and the horse returned to full athletic use.