Diarrhea in Large Animals Flashcards
define colitis/typhlocolitis
inflammatory conditions of the large intestines
typically leads to diarrhea and is often used interchangeably with diarrhea
define enteritis
inflammatory conditions of the small intestines
does not typically lead to diarrhea on its own, except in some neonate/juvenile animals
describe the spectrum of diarrhea in equine species
0: normal: firm but moist balls of manure
1: soft-formed: loses form on hitting ground
2: cow-pie: sits atop bedding
3: loose cow-pie: falls through bedding, spatters
4: water diarrhea: minimal to no fibrous pieces
describe the spectrum of diarrhea in cattle
1: liquid/watery
2: semi-liquid, flat pat without shape/rings
3: moist, raised pat in a circle with rings
-ideal!
4: dry, stiff pat in a circle
- very dry, lumpy log
describe the spectrum of diarrhea in small ruminants/camelids
from:
formed separated pellets
formed clumped pellets
segmented log
smooth log
liquid/watery
describe clinical signs of acute diarrhea
- lethargy
- decreased to absent appetite
- fever
- variable diarrhea
- +/- variable pain
- dehydration:
-dry MM, prolonged skin tent
-delayed jugular refill time
-tachycardia
-reduced urine production - hypovolemic shock:
-mentation obtunded to stuporous
-MM may appear pale
-prolonged CRT
-increased pulse rate yet poor peripheral pulse strength
-cool or cold distal extremities - acute SIRS
-fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, changes in WBCs - distributive shock:
-mentation obtunded to stuporous, MM often hyperemic with toxic line, prolonged CRT, increased pulse rate yet poor peripheral pulse strength, cool or cold distal extremities - other sequelae of GI inflammation
-protein loss causes decreased oncotic pressure and ventral edema
-laminitis or coagulopathies d/t systemic inflam
describe clinical signs of chronic diarrhea cases
- variable appetite
- variable diarrhea
- weight loss
- protein loss leading to ventral edema
describe clinical pathology of acute diarrhea cases
- leukopenia characterized by neutropenia with a left shift and toxic changes
-increased demand increases production - inflammatory markers
- hemoconcentration
- hypoproteinemia
- hyperketonemia
- azotemia: pre-renal and renal both common with colitis
- metabolic acidosis
- hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia
describe clinical pathology of chronic diarrhea cases
- may have no clinically significant findings
- may have signs of chronic inflammation
-anemia of chronic disease
-leukocytosis characterized by mature neutrophilia
-inflammatory markers
-hypoalbuminemia
describe ancillary diagnostics for diarrhea in large animals
- transabdominal ultrasound:
-most common diagnostic!
-most common finding in colitis: thickened intestinal wall
- +- swirling fluid in intestines
+/- hypermotility of intestines - abdominal radiography:
-primary indication: if concern for sand enteropathy - transrectal abdominal palpation: frequently done!
-to eval for any other contributing factors: rule in or out any impactions, displacements, gas distensions - intubation:
-pass NGT or OGT
-primarily in cases showing signs of abdominal pain
-or any sign of bloat in ruminants - fecal diagnostics:
-gross eval
-sand sedimentation test
-parasitology
-culture
-PCR - miscellaneous:
-peritoneal fluid analysis
-serology
-tissue culture
-histopath from tissue
-absorption tests
list differential diagnoses for colitis in adult horses
acute:
infectious:
-salmonellosis
-clostridiosis
-potomac horse fever
-equine coronavirus
noninfectious:
-antibiotic-induced colitis
-NSAID-induced colitis
-grain overload
-blister beetle toxicity
chronic:
-infectious: cyathostomiasis
noninfectious:
-sand enteropathy
-inflammatory bowel disease
-intestinal lymphoma
list differential diagnoses for diarrhea in neonate/juvenile horses
acute:
infectious:
1. septicemia
2. salmonellosis
3. clostridiosis
4. rotavirus
noninfectious:
1. foal heat diarrhea
2. antibiotic-induced colitis
3. NSAID-induced colitis
chronic:
infectious:
1. lawsonia
noninfectious:
1. lactose intolerance
2. nutritional
3. sand enteropathy
describe differential diagnoses for diarrhea in adult ruminants and cattle
acute:
infectious:
1. salmonellosis
2. clostridiosis
3. bovine coronavirus
4. bovine viral diarrhea virus
noninfectious:
1. antibiotic induced
chronic:
infectious:
1. paratuberculosis
2. trichostrongyles
noninfectious:
1. IBD
2. intestinal lymphoma
describe differential diagnoses for diarrhea in neonate/juvenile ruminants and camelids
acute:
infectious:
1. E. coli
2. salmonellosis
3. clostridiosis
4. rotavirus
5. coronavirus
6. bovine viral diarrhea virus
7. cryptosporidium
noninfectious:
1. antibiotic induced
chronic:
infectious:
1. trichostrongyles
2. coccidia
noninfectious:
1. lactose intolerance
2. nutritional
