Diarrhoea Flashcards
Acute diarrhoea in adult horses is always due to inflammation of which part of the GI tract?
Colon +/- caecum
(Colitis, typhlocolitis)
Disease of SI only does NOT cause diarrhoea
In foals, diarrhoea can be due to inflammation of which parts of the GI tract
Colon, small intestine or caecum
Give 2 examples of diarrhoea causes in a foals
Rotavirus
Lawsonia intracellularis
What is the most likely cause of a foal 5-14 days of age experiencing diarrhoea? The horse is systemically well.
Foal heat diarrhoea
Dam’s first ovulation causes hormonal changes in milk
What is the most likely differential of a one month old foal with diarrhoea? How does this cause diarrhoea?
Rotavirus
Blunts villi
Acute diarrhoea (colitis) in adult horses is often complicated by which condition?
Endotoxaemia/SIRS
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
What are the most common causes of acute colitis in adult horses?
Idiopathic Salmonella Clostridia Drug induced (antibiotics, NSAIDs) Larval cyathostomes Carbohydrate overloads
Why do antibiotics predispose horses to acute colitis?
Alters GI flora
How does SIRS lead to laminitis?
Damages extracellular matrix of hoof laminae
What is the most common serotype of Salmonella in horses?
Salmonella typhimurium
Give examples of the source of Salmonella infection
Asymptomatic shedders
Diseased horses (outbreaks)
Environmental factors/stress - surgery, immunosuppression, antibiotics
Salmonella can cause severe disease and even septicaemia. How are neutrophils and sodium levels affected?
Neutropenia
Hyponatraemia
Dehydration
How is Salmonella diagnosed or ruled out?
Faecal cultures
5+ cultures needed to rule out Salmonella
Any antibiotic can cause antibotic-induced diarrhoea. How?
Alters GI flora
Allows overgrowth of pathogens causing dysbiosis in colon
How can antibiotic-induced diarrhoea be treated?
Stop antibiotics
Supportive care
Facal transfaunation (transferring micro-organisms to sick animal)
If a horse is hypoalbuminaemic, what type of fluids should be given?
Plasma (expensive)
Colloids (do not replace proteins themselves, but improve oncotic pressure)
If a horse has moderate-severe hypovolaemia, what type of fluids should be given?
Hypertonic saline
What is the fluid maintenance rate for adult horses and foals?
Adults = 2ml/kg/hr Foals = 4ml/kg/hr
If clostridial diarrhoea/colitis is suspected in an adult horse, what antibiotic should be given?
Metronidazole
What is bismuth subsalicyte?
Oral protectant - antacid
How can SIRS be treated?
Flunixin meglumine (anti-endotoxic)
Polymixin
Ice feet to prevent laminitis
What % of their BW do foals drink per day?
20%
Dehydrate very quickly if not suckling
What haematological change is the biggest risk factor for ventral oedema?
Hypoproteinaemia
2 out of the 3 criteria are required to isolate a horse. What are the 3 criteria?
Pyrexia (>38.3)
Leukopenia
Diarrhoea
