Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ependymoma of the neurohypophysis and hypernatremia in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1995
- Authors:
- Heath, S E et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was brought in for issues like a drooping third eyelid, muscle twitching in his head, neck, and front legs, and constant tail swishing. He had high sodium levels in his blood but wasn't drinking water, and attempts to correct this with IV fluids didn't help. Unfortunately, his condition worsened over six days, leading to his death. A post-mortem examination revealed a tumor pressing on a part of the brain that controls thirst, suggesting that his high sodium levels were due to his altered thirst response. Sadly, the treatment did not work, and the horse passed away.
Abstract
A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was examined because of prolapse of the third eyelid; myoclonus of the muscles of the head, neck, and forelimbs; and persistent tail swishing. The horse had a high plasma sodium concentration but was not drinking water. The hypernatremia could not be corrected by means of IV administration of fluids, and the horse became worse and, 6 days later, died. At necropsy, a tumor was found to be compressing the neurohypophysis and the area in the brain in which the thirst centers are believed to be located. It is believed that hypernatremia in this horse was a result of altered thirst.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7657573/