1. [Acute blindness due to trauma in a Welsh pony-colt].
- Author
-
van Schaik AM, van der Pol BA, and van der Linde-Sipman JS
- Subjects
- Animals, Blindness drug therapy, Blindness etiology, Craniocerebral Trauma complications, Optic Nerve pathology, Prednisone therapeutic use, Wallerian Degeneration veterinary, Blindness veterinary, Craniocerebral Trauma veterinary, Horses injuries, Optic Nerve Injuries
- Abstract
A healthy, 10-day-old Welsh A pony colt was totally blind 1 day after arrival at a studfarm. Both eyes appeared normal on external inspection. The young animal had been very distressed during the 40-km journey to the studfarm. Intravenous corticosteroids were administered for 2 days, but did not result in any observable improvement. The animal was euthanized at the owner's request. Both eyes with the optic nerves were removed for histological examination. Both optic nerves showed Wallerian degeneration, a well-known response of peripheral nerves to trauma. The foal, which was not tethered during transportation, probably sustained a blunt trauma in the trailer. This case highlights the importance of taking adequate measures to prevent young animals from sustaining blunt trauma during transport.
- Published
- 1998