Efficacy of Guttural Pouch Flush on Equine Retropharyngeal Abscesses

Four thoroughbred horses exhibiting abnormal respiratory sounds and coughing during exercise were examined clinically. Endoscopic examination revealed dorsolateral swelling of the pharyngolarynx and compression of the arytenoid cartilage corniculum, narrowing of the pharyngolarynx cavity, and guttural pouch empyema. These findings were consistent with those of retropharyngeal abscesses previously reported in Europe and North America. All horses were treated by topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy after flushing the guttural pouches with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Retropharyngeal abscesses and guttural pouch empyema completely disappeared after 7 to 10 days. This appearance suggests that topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy after guttural pouch flush with PBS coupled with systemically administered broad-spectrum antibiotics is an effective therapeutic regimen for this condition.