The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported on Friday that the necropsy conducted on carriage horse Charlie by pathologists at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine indicates the cause of death remains unknown.
Charlie, a 15-year-old draft horse, suddenly collapsed and died in the middle of the street on October 23 while en route to Central Park in Midtown Manhattan.
In order to assess cause of death, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a complete gross necropsy, histopathology of all body tissues, special stains of the liver, heart and brain as well as a parasitology analysis. None of these indicated a direct cause of death. The final pathology report noted the following:
There was a significant amount of tissue breakdown after death. Though the visual examination of the stomach showed gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), much of what was seen visually may have been the result of tissue breakdown after death. There is no evidence of gastritis in the microscopic sections of the stomach, though tissue breakdown may have obscured subtle abnormalities. The firm area of the stomach noted visually is a result of muscular enlargement rather than scarring.
The presence of inflammation in the small intestine and a nodule in the large intestine both indicate parasites. However, these findings were not severe and given the good nutritional condition of the horse not causing significant problems.
The liver had evidence of scarring but the cause of this is unknown, however, it has been reported in cases involving heart conditions. No abnormalities were seen in the heart. In this case, the liver scarring was chronic and of unknown clinical significance. The cause of death in this horse remains unknown.
There was no evidence of a sudden onset of any abnormalities to account for the collapse. It is possible that the horse had some degree of a heart condition; however, this cannot be conclusively demonstrated.
We cannot rule out recent toxin exposure, abnormal heartbeat or allergic reaction as the development of changes in tissue requires that the animal remain alive for at least 12 hours after the event or exposure.
The preserved sections of heart were examined microscopically and no abnormalities were found. No additional microscopic examination is necessary.
Therefore, the cause of death in this horse remains unknown and the case is now closed.
The controversy surrounding the horse's death resulted in Dr. Pamela Corey, director of equine veterinary services for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Humane Law Enforcement Department, being suspended without pay after clarifying comments she made about the horse’s cause of death.
In its Oct. 31 statement, ASPCA reported that after the 15-year-old draft horse died heading to Central Park on Oct. 23, Corey determined it was not healthy enough for a career in an urban carriage business.
“We are very concerned that Charlie was forced to work in spite of painful maladies, and these particular health issues can be difficult to diagnose because draft horses are by nature a stoic breed, not displaying signs of pain until they are severe,” Corey said in the original statement.
ASPCA says it is still awaiting final results of a confirmatory necropsy, but stated Oct. 31 that a gross necropsy report indicates the horse was “suffering from pain due to pronounced chronic ulceration of the stomach and a fractured tooth.”
The association said on Oct. 31 that the official cause of death is still open and would likely be inconclusive, pending microscopic analysis of the tissues.
But on Nov. 3, Corey issued a correction to the original ASPCA statement to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, stating gastric ulcers are a common finding in working horses but there was no evidence Charlie was experiencing any pain.