Gastric and Esophageal Diverticulum Rupture in a Friesian Gelding

Abstract

A 17-year-old Friesian gelding presented to the Cornell University Large Animal Emergency Service on 3/28/14 for a 1 day history of lethargy, inappetence and an approximately 8 hour history of dyspnea and colic. The horse was seen by the referring veterinarian who found the horse to be tachycardic, dyspneic, and febrile with muddy mucous membranes and a prolonged capillary refill time. No borborygmi were heard on abdominal auscultation and nasogastric tubing yielded no gastric reflux. The horse was then given flunixin, ceftiofur crystalline free acid, and detomidine. The horse became displayed signs of discomfort when mineral oil was administered via nasogastric intubation. The horse was then referred to Cornell for suspected colitis.