Cervical injury following a horse kick to the head in two dogs.
Two dogs were presented to North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital following blunt trauma to the head delivered by a horse kick. On presentation, both dogs had resolving clinical signs directly related to the head trauma, but both also had compromise to their upper airway as a result of indirect injury to the soft tissues of the neck, visible on plain radiographs. One dog made a full recovery following a period of assisted ventilation. The other dog was euthanized at the request of the owner. These injuries illustrate the importance of evaluating the cervical spine and soft tissues of the neck following blunt trauma to the head.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
Natasha
N
Olby
Karen
K
Muñana
Luisa
L
De Risio
Peter
P
Sebestyen
Bernie
B
Hansen
D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*