Texas Equine Veterinary Association

www.texasequineva.com • 6 Beau, a ten-year-old ranch horse, presented with an acute lameness in his left front. He was grade 4/5 and had a "muffin-top" appearance or swelling just proximal to the coronary band. He was worked two days prior to presentation at the clinic to gather cattle and brand calves. Radiographs were unremarkable, with the exception of the soft tissue swelling highlighting the dorsal aspect of the coffin joint. Ultrasound revealed a linear (2 cm), hyperechoic ridged foreign body approximately 1 cm proximal to the coronary band. An abaxial nerve block was performed and the pastern area was shaved and sterilely prepped. The foreign body was removed by an ultrasound guided technique of sharp and blunt dissection. A thorn from a plant known as "Horse Crippler" was identified. The coffin joint was injected with 250 mg of amikacin and a regional limb perfusion with 2g of ceftazidime was performed. The foot was bandaged. The next day the horse was sound at a walk and is currently back to being worked. "Horse Crippler" is also known as "Devil's Head" or "Devil's Pin Cushion," and the scientific name is Echinocactus texensis. Michelle Bessire, DVM, DABVP Foreign The ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michelle (Dockter) Bessire was raised on a ranch in central North Dakota and attended North Dakota State University where she studied pre- veterinary medicine. Michelle graduated from Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She started an internship at Brock Veterinary Clinic in Lamesa, Texas, in December of 2007 and has been there as an associate veterinarian ever since. Dr. Bessire was awarded TVMA Equine Practitioner of the Year. As of 2017, she is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Equine Practice). Her and her husband PJ enjoy spending time with their twin, eight-year-old boys, Kaden and Kael. What is the Craziest Thing That You Have Removed (or Found) in a Horse? We want to hear from you! Article guidelines: • Please submit high quality pictures or diagnostic images (#picturesoritdidnthappen) of the foreign body in the horse. • Please include a few paragraphs on the workup and outcome of the case. • Please include a photo of yourself, a short bio, and your credentials as you would like them published in the TEVA Remuda. • Disclaimer: If there are numerous submissions, we may not be able to include them all. Also, this may become a multiple series article in more than one issue of The Remuda, so your submission may be included in a future issue. • Submit cases to Dr. Piper Norton at piper@texasema.com. Foreign body in a foot

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