Diarrhoea in the young horse

Question 1

What age range classifies as a young horse? (in this context)

Answer 1

• 6w-9m

Question 2

Causes of acute d+ in young horses

Answer 2

▪Salmonella spp. ▪Clostridium difficile ▪Clostridium perfringens
▪ Coronavirus ▪Cyathostomiasis ▪Antimicrobial Associated ▪Right Dorsal Colitis ▪Grain overload
▪ Dietary
^ as with adults
+
▪ Equine proliferative enteropathy
▪ Rhodococcus equi

Question 3

Clinical Signs + Complications of acute diarrhoea

Answer 3

▪Cow pat to high volume hosepipe D+++
▪Quiet to depressed
▪Colic
▪ Fever
▪ Hypovolaemia
▪ SIRS
▪ Laminitis
▪Secondary infections
▪Have a significant risk of deteriorating rapidly

Question 4

Causative agent of equine proliferative enteropathy

Answer 4

• Lawsonia intracellularis

Question 5

Age group usually affected by equine proliferative enteropathy

Answer 5

• 2-8m/o

Question 6

What is equine proliferative enteropathy?

Answer 6

• proliferative enteropathy of the small intestine

Question 7

CS of equine proliferative enteropathy

Answer 7

• severe hypoalbuminaemia
• weight loss +++
• thickened SI on US

Question 8

Rhodococcus equi

Answer 8

• normally a respiratory dz
  – generally causes pneumonia in foals and weanlings
• uncommon manifestation is d+
• can have pneumonia that progresses into GI m manifestations (d+) in the coming days/wks

Question 9

Risk factors for Lawsonia and R.equi

Answer 9

• geographical
• farms with a history of dz and often annual recurrence in this age group

Question 10

Causes of chronic d+ in young horses

Answer 10

▪Salmonella spp.
▪ Cyathostomiasis
▪ Right Dorsal Colitis
▪Sand enteropathy
▪ Inflammatory Bowel Disease
▪ Dietary
▪ Lawsonia intracelllaris
▪Rhodococcus equi