FIBROCARTILAGINOUS EMBOLIC MYELOPATHY IN AN ADULT BELGIAN HORSE

A 4.6-year-old Belgian horse presented to the New York State College o f Veterinary Medicine with an acute onset hemiparesis on its right sid e. After 3 days of treatment with trimethoprim sulfadiazine, dimethyl sulfoxide, and intravenous fluids the horse was euthanized. Histologic ally, the lesion was characterized as being locally extensive with acu te leukomyelomalacia. Peripheral vessels of this lesion were occluded with a basophilic, slightly granular to homogeneous material. Fibrocar tilaginous embolic myelopathy was diagnosed. This condition is rare in the horse and relatively common in the dog and human. The pathophysio logy of this condition is uncertain.