Sales performance and athletic outcome in young Thoroughbreds with pericarditis.

Background: Pericarditis is a sporadic, but important cause of critical illness in horses of all ages. There is limited information on whether Thoroughbred horses that survive pericarditis are able to reach athletic potential.

Objectives: To determine how pericarditis affected horses that had the disease as young animals with regard to selling price in public sales and the ability to race successfully.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Medical records were searched to identify pericarditis cases. Signalment and month of diagnosis were noted and Thoroughbreds with ultrasonographically confirmed pericarditis that presented from 2 months to 3 years old were identified. For this subgroup data on sales and racing performed were obtained from publicly available databases to determine long-term survival and post-treatment outcomes from these horses and their unaffected half-siblings.

Results: Horses that survived pericarditis as young animals may recover growth and maturation rates quickly enough to reach expected sales prices at public sales for horses of racing age and recovered horses can have successful racing careers.

Main Limitations: The number of horses in this case series was not sufficient to enable statistical comparisons between affected horses and unaffected half-siblings, but description of sales prices and race earnings nevertheless yields information about the chances for affected young horses to achieve their intended purposes.

Conclusions: Young Thoroughbreds with pericarditis warrant treatment and can sell and have successful racing careers.