PLEUROPNEUMONIA - 5 CASES

Pleuropneumonia is an inflammation of the pulmonary parenchyma. This d isease does not occur very often. During the period of time which is c overed by this study the incidence of pleuropneumonia was about 1% of all clinical cases. Five cases of pleuropneumonia of different aetiolo gy are described: Aspiration of paraffin oil occurred in horse A, whil e in horse B the cause was aspiration of water. Horse C, however, had a stab wound at the left side of the thorax. Horse D also had a stab w ound, but in the xiphoid region, with a resultant haemothorax. in hors e D the cause was aspiration of dust from straw as it struggled to fre e itself from a chain. The following clinical signs were observed: Apa thy, reduced feed intake, pyrexia, a high respiratory and pulse rate a nd dyspnea. Coughing and a nasal discharge were noted in horses A, B a nd E. Percussion of the thorax elicited a horizontal line with resonan t sounds dorsal and dull sounds ventral to the line. On auscultation o f the chest, the vesicular sounds were more pronounced, while bronchio lar sounds with moist rales, crackles and wheezes were also audible. D iagnosis of pleuropneumonia was confirmed using the ultrasound techniq ue, which also determined the extent of fluid accumulation, its locati on and nature. The initial treatment consisted of systemic administrat ion of antibiotics, which included penicillin or ampicillin, gentamyci n and metronidatoie. After testing the pleural fluid for antibiotic se nsitivity the treatment could be varied. A thoracocentesis was done in each case while observing strict asepsis, to remove the pleural fluid . The importance of fluid therapy to supplement for the loss in protei n and energy during thoracocentesis can not be overstressed.