Bethanechol-responsive bladder atony in a colt foal after cystorrhaphy for cystorrhexis

showed a favourable outcome after tracheolaryngostomy. There is an ethical issue related to whether animals which have suffered from laryngeal chondritis should be used for breeding, especially in the Belgian Blue breed where there is evidence of a breed susceptibility (Gustin and others 1986). Salisbury (1956) suggested a hereditary predisposition in Southdown sheep, and Lane and others (1987) proposed a possible hereditary predisposition in Texel sheep. However, since both the aetiology of the condition and its inheritance are unknown, prevention remains difficult. It should be recommended that an animal suffering from laryngeal chondritis be used only to breed animals for slaughter and not for pedigree breeding. While these case reports do not constitute a controlled trial, the positive response to lincomycin therapy suggests that this may be considered as a possible alternative to surgery. A larger study is necessary to verify the true value of this treatment, both in terms of clinical response and cost-benefit.