Tracheal obstruction from tracheal collapse associated with pneumonia in a horse

A 20-month-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted for evaluation of labored breathing, honking cough, and bilateral epistaxis that were caused by pneumonia and collapsed trachea. A transtracheal aspiration revealed highly cellular, serosanguineous fluid. Radiography revealed a patchy alveolar pattern and a narrowed tracheal lumen. Endoscopy confirmed narrowing of the tracheal lumen. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated on culture of the transtracheal aspirate. The horse responded to penicillin treatment, and the tracheal collapse improved endoscopically after 4 days, with complete recovery within 1 year. Tracheal collapse has been reported to be a disease of older horses associated with degenerative cartilage. The findings in the horse of this report suggested that tracheal collapse may result from inflammation secondary to pneumonia and, therefore, may be reversible.