Case Report Congenital rectal hamartoma presenting as a haemorrhagic perineal mass in a neonatal foal

An 8-hour-old Thoroughbred filly was presented for evaluation of a haemorrhagic, oedematous rectal mass. Physical examination was otherwise unremarkable apart from tachycardia and tachypnoea. Digital rectal palpation identified a firm, mobile pedunculated mass originating from the dorsal rectal mucosa. The lesion was resected under short-term intravenous anaesthesia, and histopathology confirmed a congenital cystic polypoid rectal hamartoma. The foal recovered uneventfully. Congenital rectal hamartomas are exceedingly rare in horses, with only two previous cases reported. This case highlights the importance of considering hamartomas in the differential diagnosis of neonatal rectal masses.