Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

NAVLE - Equine > Acute Colic > Flashcards

Acute Colic Flashcards

1
Q

What are the most common signs of colic in horses?

A
  • frequent pawing
  • kicking at abdomen
  • stretching out as if to urinate
  • laying down
  • rolling
  • anorexia
  • sweating
  • muscle fasciculations
  • Flehman response
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the pathogenesis of strangulating lipoma? What horses are most commonly affected?

A

mesenteric lipoma on a stalk twists around one or more pieces of the small intestines causing strangulation

older horses, usually 20+ y/o

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the pathogenesis of small intestinal volvulus in horses?

A

twist in the small intestines causes strangulation at the root of the twist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What horses are most commonly affected by small intestinal intussusception? What are 2 common causes?

A

younger horses

  1. diet changes
  2. parasites, especially tapeworms
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where is intussusception most common in horses?

A

ileocecal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 3 most common places of small intestinal herniation in horses? What is the pathogenesis?

A
  1. inguinal - congenital, acquired traumatic, castration-associated
  2. umbilical
  3. incisional

small openings usually only allow SI to herniate through and become strangulated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What mesenteric defects commonly cause small intestinal strangulation in horses?

A
  • mesenteric rent
  • epiploic foramen entrapment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does anterior/proximal enteritis mimic? How does it differ?

A

SI obstruction

pain is less severe, but there is significant GI reflux

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are 2 characteristic signs of small intestinal disease in horses? What else is commonly seen?

A
  1. severe pain with poor response to analgesics
  2. gastric reflux

elevated HR, systemic shock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is seen on AUS in cases of small intestinal disease in horses?

A

dilated/non-motile loops of small intestine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What happens as small intestinal disease develops and becomes more chronic in horses?

A

serosanguinous abdominal fluid with elevated proteins/WBCs accumulated within the abdomen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is seen on rectal exam in horses with small intestinal disease?

A

palpable distended loops of small intestines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the most commonly effective treatment of small intestinal strangulation in horses? What is prognosis like? What is a common complication?

A

surgical - resection and anastomosis if bowel has devitalized

guarded - poor with longer duration or large amounts of dead bowel (>15 ft)

post-op ileus if resection is required

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the pathogenesis of large intestinal volvulus/torsion in horses?

A

portion of colon twists, rapidly becomes ischemic, and begins to necrose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a common risk factor that increases the development of large intestinal volvulus/torsion in horses?

A

older broodmares just before parturition or up to 4 months postpartum, especially larger horses (more room for colon to twist)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are 2 classic signs of large intestinal volvulus/torsion in horses? How is it differentiated from small intestinal disease?

A
  1. severe pain poorly responsive to analgesics
  2. elevated HR and systemic shock

NO gastric reflux - lesion is too caudal to allow fluid back up to the stomach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is seen on rectal exam in cases of large intestinal volvulus/torsion in horses?

A

palpable diffuse gas-distended large intestine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What treatment is required for large intestinal volvulus/torsion in horses? What complication is associated? What is prognosis like?

A

surgical - nearly impossible to resect the LI

endotoxic shock once volvulus is corrected

good/fair if early surgical correction; poor if more than a few hours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are 2 risk factors associated with colonic impaction in horses?

A
  1. older horses or those with poor dental care, especially when fed hay or coarse feed
  2. decreased water intake - stress, cold weather, frozen water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In what horses is colonic impaction most common?

A

miniature horses - frequently impacted with hair from grooming self/other horses or feed material due to poor dentition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What clinical signs are associated with colonic impaction in horses?

A

mild or intermittent colic that worsens as time progresses + noticeable decrease in manure production

  • may appear “normal” with analgesics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are 3 important treatments used for colonic impaction in horses? What is prognosis like?

A
  1. analgesics
  2. oral fluids with laxatives via intermittent or indwelling NG tube - mineral oil, psyllium, Epsom salts
  3. IV fluids
    (main goal is to hydrate impaction)

good - surgical correction is only necessary with severe pain or several day duration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are 2 common causes of colonic tympany (gas colic)?

A
  1. diet change
  2. grain overload

(can happen anytime!)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is a characteristic sign of colonic tympany (gas colic) in horses? What else may be seen?

A

often spasmodic mild to severe pain –> as gas passes, pain subsides

  • increased HR
  • abdominal distension
25
Q

What are 3 important parts of treating colonic tympany (gas colic) in horses? What is prognosis like?

A
  1. analgesics
  2. sedation
  3. IV fluids
    (often remains medical unless it becomes severe and causes circulatory issues)

good

26
Q

What is the most common colon displacement in horses? What others 2 can be seen?

A

left dorsal displacement - nephrosplenic entrapment (colon goes into the deep space between the left kidney and spleen and becomes distended with gas

  1. right dorsal displacement - colon between cecum and right body wall
  2. pelvic flexure displacement
27
Q

What is the major risk factor associated with colonic displacement in horses? Why?

A

large breeds (Warmbloods) –> more room for the colon to displace

28
Q

How is colonic displacement diagnosed?

A

rectal exam –> palpable, tight bands of a gas-distended large colon

29
Q

How is nephrosplenic entrapment diagnosed?

A

inability to identify the left kidney on transabdominal ultrasound

30
Q

How is colonic displacement treated? Nephrosplenic entrapment specifically?

A

medical –> surgical if no improvement

IV phenylephrine to shrink spleen and decrease nephrosplenic space, then trot the horse or anesthetize and roll to encourage the colon to return to the normal space

31
Q

What are 4 major risk factors for horses to develop enteroliths/sand colic? What breed is predisposed?

A
  1. geographic areas with sandy soil (CA, FL, AZ)
  2. horses fed on dirt ground
  3. horses fed insufficient roughage / malnourished
  4. alfalfa hay due to mineral composition

Arabians

32
Q

What is the most common make up of an enterolith in horses? Where are they most commonly found?

A

precipitation of struvite salts (magnesium ammonium phosphate) around a foreign body nidus

small colon or transverse colon due to small size

33
Q

What is the pathogenesis of sand colic?

A

chronic, low-grade ingestion of sand or dirt, which does not pass in manure well and settles on the ventral aspects of the colon

34
Q

What are the most common signs associated with enteroliths and sand colic?

A
  • mild/moderate intermittent pain
  • auscultable fluid wave on sand in central abdomen
  • gas distention on rectal exam (large enteroliths can block gas from passing)
35
Q

How is sand colic and enteroliths diagnosed?

A

SAND COLIC - positive fecal sand float

ENTEROLITHS - radiopaque sand or stone visible on abdominal radiographs

36
Q

How are enteroliths and sand colic treated?

A

ENTEROLITH - enterotomy

SAND COLIC - frequent nasogastric tubing with water, mineral oil, psyllium, and laxatives; enterotomy if medical treatment is unsuccessful

37
Q

What are 3 major risk factors for horses to develop gastric ulcers?

A
  1. highly stressed or nervous horses (showing, racing, traveling)
  2. prolonged time with an empty stomach (no turnout, decreased roughage)
  3. NSAID usage
38
Q

Where are gastric ulcers most commonly found in horses?

A

squamous region (non-glandular, dorsal stomach)

39
Q

What are the most common clinical signs associated with gastric ulcers in horses?

A
  • mild/moderate pain
  • mild anorexia
  • cranky/irritable behavior
  • NO bleeding into GI
  • often responds well to initial dose of analgesics (Banamine), but repeated use worsens the ulcers

often no abnormalities on PE, rectals, or U/S

40
Q

How are gastric ulcers in horses diagnosed? What are 3 important parts to treatment?

A

fasted gastroscopy

  1. Omeprazole (gastric hydrogen potassium ATPase inhibitor) - several weeks to months
  2. Ranitidine (H2 blocker)
  3. Sucralfate
41
Q

What are 3 ways of preventing gastric ulcers in horses?

A
  1. feed alfalfa hay to reduce stomach acid
  2. maximize roughage and turnout time
  3. reduce stress
42
Q

What are the 2 most common causes of parasite-associated colic in horses? What horses are most commonly affected?

A
  1. Parascaris equorum (roundworm) - ascarid impaction
  2. Strongylus vulgaris - verminous arteritis, thromboembolic colic

horses <1 y/o that haven’t been dewormed and recently given a large dose of anthelmintics –> massive numbers of parasite die-off

43
Q

What is the pathogenesis of verminous arteritis in horses?

A
  • S. vulgaris migrates to the cranial mesenteric artery
  • damage and immune response forms a thrombus that cuts off blood supply to the bowel, resulting in an infarction (most common in cecum)
44
Q

What treatment is required for parasite-associated colic in horses?

A

surgical intervention

45
Q

What are the 5 most common causes of infectious colitis in horses?

A
  1. Salmonella
  2. Clostridium perfringens
  3. Clostridium difficile
  4. Potomac Horse Fever - Neorickettsia risticii
  5. Equine Coronavirus
46
Q

What are the 3 most common causes of noninfectious colitis in horses?

A
  1. diet change
  2. right dorsal colitis - NSAID use
  3. intestinal neoplasia
47
Q

What is colitis X?

A

undiagnosed causes of peracute, fatal enterocolitis in horses, characterized by sudden onset of profuse, watery diarrhea and development of hypovolemic shock

48
Q

What clinical signs are suggestive of colitis in horses?

A
  • mild to moderate pain, frequently intermittent or spasmodic
  • systemic shock
49
Q

What treatments are recommended for colitis in horses?

A
  • analgesics
  • IV fluids
  • probiotics
  • Biosponge - horse digestive supplement
50
Q

When are antibiotics used for colitis in horses?

A

Tetracyclines used for treating Potomac Horse Fever caused by Neorickettsia risticii

51
Q

What are 2 common non-gastrointestinal causes of colic signs in horses?

A
  1. urolithiasis - stallions, geldings (mares rarely become obstructed)
  2. uterine torsion - pregnant mares in late gestation
52
Q

What are the 2 major risk factors associated with urolithiasis in horses? What is the most common composition?

A
  1. stallions and geldings
  2. horses fed alfalfa or high-protein diets

calcium carbonate

53
Q

What clinical signs are associated with urolithiasis in horses?

A
  • acute severe pain
  • stretching out as if to urinate
  • straining without producing significant quantities of urine
54
Q

What are 2 ways of diagnosing urolithiasis in horses?

A
  1. distended bladder on rectal exam
  2. palpable calculi on rectal or with U/S
55
Q

How is urolithiasis treated in horses? What is prognosis like?

A

emergency surgical removal

recurrence common, especially if diet is not addressed

56
Q

What is a major risk factor for the development of uterine torsion in horses?

A

mares in last trimester of gestation (7 months+)

57
Q

What clinical signs are indicative of uterine torsion in horses? What is characteristically felt on rectal exam?

A
  • mild to moderate colic signs
  • anorexia
  • recumbency
  • signs persist despite appropriate treatment for GI colic

broad ligament pulled tight over uterus

58
Q

How is uterine torsion in mares treated? What is prognosis like?

A
  • place mare under general anesthesia
  • roll her with a plank over the abdomen to stabilize the fetus in the direction of the torsion

good for fetus and mare especially if treated early

NAVLE - Equine (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions