AVA Conference Melbourne 2017

Horses that make abnormal respiratory noise when exercising can do so for a wide variety of reasons. Previously, high speed treadmill endoscopy was the gold standard for diagnosis of ‘dynamic’ upper airway abnormalities, however the development of over-ground endoscopic systems which can be used on horses which are ridden or driven have changed the state of play in the last decade. Clinical evidence will be presented that shows how resting endoscopy and owners/trainers description of respiratory noise measures up to this new ‘gold standard’. Some upper airway disorders can be diagnosed easily at rest, but the majority of dynamic airway disorders require exercising endoscopic examination to make the correct diagnosis and come up with a useful treatment plan and the prognosis for continued athletic endeavour.