colic Flashcards
what are the 11 causes of colic?
- Become blocked (impaction/obstruction)
- Form excessive gas (gas/tympanic colic)
- Move too much (spasmodic colic)
- Stop moving (ileus)
- Telescope into themselves (intussusception)
- Go through hole within body (herniated intestine)
- Move from normal position (displacement)
- Become infected/inflamed (enteritis)
- Develop ulcers
- Lose blood supply (strangulation)
◦ eg Epiploic foramen entrapment, - Become twisted (torsion)
what are the risk factors and signs of epiploic foramen entrapment?
risk factors: crib-biting and wind-sucking.
Signs: development of severe abdominal pain with circulatory compromise.
what are the sings of colic?
- reduced appetite
- no droppings/change in droppings/few droppings
- pacing
- depressed/dull
- yawning/lip curling/teeth grinding
- pawing
- lying down
- rolling
- flank watching
what are the clinicla signs assocciated with server/critical cases of colic?
- Severe unrelenting pain (including signs of self trauma)
- Dullness and depression (can indicate septicaemia, rupture)
- Abdominal distension
- Heart rate >60bpm
- Discoloured mucous membranes or delayed capillary refill time
- Absence of gut sounds in one or more quadrants
what is the key information needed when taking a history for colic?
- when was the horse last seen behaving normally
- when did the horse last pass faeces
- if colic has occured previously
- age of horse
- recent changes in management or enviroment of horse
what is the basic assesment that needs to be done when present with a horse with colic signs?
- pain assessment
- HR
- MM - CRT, colour, moistness
- gut sounds
- rectal temp
what is the acronym used to remamber the 5 items to check with a horse in colic and what do they stand for?
“Painful Horse Must Get Treatment”
- Pain
- Heart rate
- Mucous membranes
- Gut sounds
- Temperature
what is the definition of a critical case of colic?
cases where the horse requires:
- euthanasia on humane grounds
- hospitalisation for intensive medical or surgical treatment
why is it important to identify critial cases of colic early?
It is important to identify critical cases of colic early because rapid diagnosis and recognition of the horse’s critical status can have a major impact on welfare
what are the signs of pain in a case of critial colic?
- Pain despite analgesia
- Abrasions
- Result from rolling/thrashing/being cast
- Typically found above the eyes and on other bony prominences
- Thrashing
- Unresponsive
- Rolling continuously/throwing themselves to the ground
- Continuous box walking
- Sudden alleviation of signs
- This usually indicates gastric or intestinal rupture
Case progression - rapid deteriation of signs
what are the cardiovascular signs of a critical case of colic?
- Tachycardia (heart rate >60 bpm)
- Abnormal mucous membranes
- Colour: Red, purple, blue, grey
- Moistness: Dry
- ‘Toxic ring’ (red or purple line above teeth)
- Capillary refill time >2.5 seconds
- Weak pulse character
- Elevated packed cell volumet
what are the allimentary system signs of a critical case of colic?
- Significant (>4L in a 500 kg horse) of spontaneous NG reflux, and/or foul mouth odour
- Identification per rectum of:
- Distended SI loops
- Severe LI distension
- Li displacement
- Peritoneal fluid discoloured or turbid
- Abnormal abdominal ultrasound
- Severe abdominal distension on visual observation
- No gut sounds in 21 quadrant
- Peritoneal lactate >2 mmol/L$
what are the diagnostic tests for colic used in the field situations?
- Response to analgesia
- Rectal examination
- Nasogastric intubation
what are the complication of the diagnostic tests used in the diagnosis of colic?
- Injury to vet or handler
◦ Assess situation
◦ Consider yours and handlers safety first
◦ Sedate when needed
◦ Ask for help / refer when needed
◦ Euthanasia is realistic option if horse is uncontrollable and dangerous - Rectal examination
◦ Rectal tear - Nasogastric intubation
◦ Epistaxis
◦ Inadvertent administration of treatment into lungs
why do rectal tears occur?
◦ Most occur as a result of a contraction around the hand or forearm
◦ Less commonly as a result of finger tip penetration
◦ Can occur as a result of external trauma, impaction, or spontaneously