CARACTERÍSTICAS FENOTÍPICAS DO NANISMO EM PÔNEIS NEONATOS: RELATO DE CASOS PHENOTYPIC FINDINGS OF DWARFISM IN NEWBORN PONY: CASES REPORT

SUMMARY Three newborn Mini-Horses and one Brazilian Pony horses were presented to the Veterinary Hospital with phenotypic appearance of dwarfism. They had relatively larger head conformation, occlusive dental defect and musculoskeletal changes such as abnormal short limbs and deformation on the third metatarsal bone. The radiographic examination showed abnormal growth plates on femoral condyle and proximal thirds metatarsal bones. Due to the high possibility of future complications and quality of life loss, the animals were euthanized. We emphasize the importance of recognition of phenotypic changes related to dwarfism in horses, enabling the phenotypic diagnosis can direct crossings for non-transmission of this abnormality as genetic inheritance. KEY-WORDS: Limb deformity. Miniature horse. Ostochondrodysplastic. Pprognathism. 1 Prof. Doutor do Departamento de Cirurgia e Anestesiologia Veterinaria. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia -FMVZUNESP - Botucatu. Autor para correspondencia: E-mail: watanabe@fmvz.unesp.br DCAV - FMVZ - UNESP - Botucatu. Distrito de Rubiao Junior s/n Caixa Postal 560. Cep: 18618-970 Botucatu - SP - Brasil.