Colic

Question 1

What are the common causes of colic?

Answer 1

Impaction
Intussusception
Gas/tympanic
Worm burden
Strangulation
Torsion
Enteritis
Displacement
Hermiated intestine
Ileus
Spasmodic

Question 2

Clinical signs of severe colic

Answer 2

Severe, unrelenting pain - signs of self-trauma
Dullness, depression
Abdominal distention
HR >60bpm
Discoloured mm or delayed CRT
Absence of gut sounds in one or more quadrants

Question 3

What is the systemic approach to the clinical exam?

Answer 3

History
Physical examination - HR, mm colour and CRT, gut sounds, rectal temperature, respiratory rate
Assessment of pain - behaviour

Question 4

What history questions do you ask?

Answer 4

When was the horse last seen behaving normally and last passed faeces?
What signs has the horse been exhibiting and have they changed over time?
Previous colics, abdominal surgery?
Management since contacting the vet, analgesia? etc.
Recent changes - pasture, owners, feed, etc. (stress), access to sand?
Medications and other medical issues?
Parasitic control up to date?
Horse signalment - age, gender, repro status, history of behaviour, changes in BCS, attitude to pain?

Question 5

What are the most commonly used diagnostic tests for colic in the field?

Answer 5

Response to analgesia
Nasogastric intubation
Rectal examination

Question 6

When do you perform a rectal examination?

Answer 6

Any horse with clinical signs of colic or recent history of colic
Horse demonstrates severe pain
Has increased HR >60bpm
Other critical signs

Question 7

When do you perform nasogastric intubation?

Answer 7

Spontaneous NG reflux
Distended SI or primary impaction (diagnosed by rectal of ultrasonography)
Severe pain
Suspected critical case
High RR >20bpm or HR >60bpm

Question 8

Why perform nasogastric intubation?

Answer 8

Diagnostic value - excessive fluid in stomach, >4L reflux from 500kg horse = critical case
Therapeutic value - avoid gastric rupture, can administer parenteral medication if no stomach contents