Palatal dysfunction in horses: where next?

PALATAL dysfunction, the term which describes both intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate and palatal instability, is one of the most commonly identified causes of upper airway obstruction in horses (Barakzai and Hawkes 2010). The reported prevalence of palatal dysfunction ranges from 10 to 20 per cent in young racehorses (Pollock and others 2009, Ducharme 2012). Dynamic endoscopic examination (high speed treadmill endoscopy or overground endoscopy) is required for definitive diagnosis of this condition (Barakzai and Dixon 2011). The reported incidence of palatal dysfunction in horses presented for poor performance or abnormal noise during exercise following dynamic endoscopy ranges from 20 to 50 per cent (Kannegieter and Dore 1995, Tan and others 2005, Lane and others 2006, Pollock and others 2009, Allen and Franklin 2010, Kelly and others 2013).