approach to the patient with diarrhea Flashcards
what are some common presenting history and accompanying clinical signs of horses with diarrhea
- anorexia/reduced feed intake
- pyrexia
- colic signs
- diarrhea
- ventral/limb edema
- hypovolaemia
- hypoproteinaemia
what is the aetiology and pathogenesis of diarrhea in horses
- large intestinal
- increased water loss due to failure of absorption and/or hypersecretion
- intestinal dysbiosis
- inflammation
list common differentials for horses with diarrhea
neonates:
- foal heat
- rotavirus
- salmonella
- clostridia
- NEC
weanlings:
- parasites
adults:
- clostridia
- salmonella
- parasites
- antibiotics
- undifferentiated
list diagnostic options for horses with diarrhea
- pathogen ID (culture, PCR, ELISA, FWEC)
- lactate, total protein
- predictive markers (leukopenia = acute inflammation, leucocytosis = chronic)
outline basic treatment options of horses with diarrhea
- specific therapy
- supportive therapy
- changes in intestinal motility (drug)
list Common presenting history and accompanying clinical signs of diarrhea in lizards
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Behaviour changes – basking for longer or hiding at the cold end of the viv.
- Straining to defecate
- Large volume and/or loose/watery faeces
- Sometimes with regurgitation/ vomiting.
- Sometimes cloacal prolapse
- Stomach thickening with cryptosporidium.
suggest aetiology and pathogenesis of diarrhea in lizards
Ingested foreign bodies e.g. wood chip or sand substrate don’t usually cause diarrhoea, they cause constipation /impactions.
Causes of diarrhoea in reptiles are usually contagious/infectious. Salmonella is commonly found in reptiles, but they are usually asymptomatic
list common differentials for a lizard with diarrhea
- Endoparasites e.g. oxyurids
- Protozoa e.g. coccidia, cryptospridium
- Bacterial infection or overgrowth - salmonella?
- Viral e.g. atadenovirus
- Stress
- Incorrect husbandry: improper temperatures, unhygienic viv or spoiled food.
what are some diagnostic options for a lizard with diarrhea
Faecal parasitology, examine husbandry, faecal PCR (cryptosporidium and atadenovirus), faecal or cloacal swab culture.
suggest treatment options for a lizard with diarrhea
- Supportive treatment, tube feeds, fluids (bathing, oral and/or injectable), correct husbandry e.g. temperatures.
- Treat the underlying causes e.g. wormer or antibiotic (TMPS is licensed in bearded dragons). Cryptospridium is not treatable – PTS?
Salmonella - no treatment?
