Horse Care

Re: Guttural Pouch Tympany

DiamondLake — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:14 GMT

My mom's horse is around nine, though. That's what's weird. I kind of hope is is strangles, but I don't think so. I'll call the vet tonight and ask. Thanks for your answers :)

Re: Guttural Pouch Tympany

FloridaHorseman — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:37:07 GMT

From the Merck Veterinary Manual:

Guttural pouch tympany is observed in horses ranging from birth to 1 yr of age and is more common in fillies than in colts. The affected guttural pouch is distended with air and forms a characteristic nonpainful swelling in the parotid region. Breathing may become stertorous in severely affected animals. Tympany may result from inflammation or malformation of the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube, which then acts as a one-way valve by allowing air to enter the pouch but preventing its return into the pharynx. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and radiographic examination of the skull. Severely affected animals may develop a secondary empyema. Tympany is usually unilateral, but bilateral cases have been reported. Medical management with NSAID and antimicrobial therapy resolves the majority of cases due to upper respiratory tract inflammation. Surgical intervention is warranted in patients with malformation of the guttural pouch opening and involves fenestration of the membrane that separates the affected guttural pouch from the normal one. This provides a route for air in the abnormal guttural pouch to pass to the normal side and be expelled into the pharynx. The postoperative prognosis is good.

~FH

Re: Guttural Pouch Tympany

48northfarm — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:35:22 GMT

I just Googled it, and the page I went to said the cause is not known.

Guttural Pouch Tympany

DiamondLake — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:54:35 GMT

My mom's horse has been almost definitely diagnosed with guttural pouch tympany (they just have to rules out strangles at MSU as a formality), and I was wondering how horses get it. I know there are articles about it in Equus about it, but I'm not sure if I have those issues. Anyone know?