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Horses have two guttural pouches, one on each side of the head near the base of the skull. These large air-filled areas are thought to help in regulating the temperature of blood that passes through the major artery supplying circulation to the brain. In some horses, a fungal infection (mycosis) develops in one or both guttural pouches. These infections have been shown to cause damage to the arteries and also to nerves that run near the area.

Signs of a fungal infection could include noisy breathing or the presence of mucus or blood draining from one or both nostrils. Mycosis also affects the horse’s ability to swallow, so owners might notice that horses have backed off grass, hay, and grain meals.

Treatment of severe guttural pouch mycosis is often prolonged and may involve medications or surgery. A study conducted at the University of Brno in the Czech Republic examined the records of 28 horses treated for this type of infection at the school’s veterinary clinic. Treatment involved medication in three cases and surgery in 11 cases. Seven horses were treated with both surgery and medication.

Half of the horses died or were euthanized due to nerve damage, poor prognosis, and the projected cost of continued treatment. No correlation was found between type of treatment and survival rate. Horses that had difficulty swallowing were significantly less likely to survive than those that did not show this problem. Early treatment of guttural pouch mycosis is likely to lead to a better outcome than when the first signs are ignored and the disease has progressed to the point of causing damage to the horse’s nerves and blood vessels.

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