Approach to Colic Flashcards
What are the mild signs of colic?
Restless, pawing, Flank watching
What are the moderate signs of colic?
Lying down flat, groaning
What are the severe signs of colic?
Very fractious, violent rolling
Name 5 things that can cause colic aetiology?
Smooth muscle spasm
Inflammation
Distension
Obstruction
Tension on the mesentry
Tissue congestion
What is endotoxaemia?
Common feature with strangulating intestinal lesions
LPS is found in abundance in the horse GIT
Mucousal injury results in an increase in LPS absorption
Horses are extremely sensitive to even small amounts of blood
What are the three priorities when approaching colic?
Provide analgesia and triage
Assess severity of the case
Construct a treatment plan
What is false colic?
Any non-GIT source of abdominal pain
Liver disease/ hepatomegaly
Urinary disease
Peritonitis
Intra-abdominal neoplasia
What is the aim of the clinical examination?
Assess the severity of of the horses condition
Establish the level of treatment
What are the four steps of the clinical examination?
1) Briefly observe from a distance
2) Rapid assessment of cardiovascular status
3) Assessment of hydration status
4) Auscultation of the GI tract
What is the rectal temp for the clinical temperature?
- Most uncomplicated colic cases will have normal rectal temperature
- Very low core temp – usually associated with severe/end stage shock
- Pyrexia (>38.5oC)– Can indicate alternate diagnosis, e.g. peritonitis, colitis
- Endotoxaemia can cause a mild pyrexia
What would you notice for respiration during the clinical exam?
- Tachypnoea: usually due to pain, but could be associated with endotoxaemia
- Detailed auscultation of lungs rarely necessary
What is the impact of pain on the clinical exam?
- Mild-moderate increase in HR (40-60bpm) common
- Marked-severe tachycardia (>60bpm) is a sign of hypovolaemia
- Tachypnoea
What quick-acting analgesics can you administer for pain in horses?
2
-agonist
Xylazine
Detomidine
Romifidine
opioid
Butorphanol
What do you have to be aware of in donkeys with colic?
Good at masking signs of pain and disease
Rectal examination usually can be done
What is impaction colic?
Most common type of colic
Hyperlipaemia is a secondary risk
Treatment = reverse the energy balance