eq colic

Question 1

what are the signs of colic

Answer 1

flank watching
lying down
pawing ground
rolling
restless
thrashing

Question 2

why is colic so common

Answer 2

LI is large and very loosely/not at all attached! so it goes wandering

Question 3

where are the common places that obstructions ocur

Answer 3

sternal, diaphragmatic, pelic flexures

Question 4

how can colic lead to shock

Answer 4

loss of vascular supply
abs of endotox into circulation
SIRS

Question 5

name the 7 main diff colic classifications

Answer 5

spasmodics
impaction
distention
obstruction
infarction
inflam
idiopathic

Question 6

what advice would you give an O about a colicing horse before you arrive

Answer 6

• wellbedded stable
• remove buckets/feed/anything it could hurt itself on
• let it roll
• walk it for 10 mins max if you really want

Question 7

if the horse is violently painful - how do you assess it safely??

Answer 7

assess HR (takes a LOT of pain to increase this!!) and RR from distance if poss - check mm colour
administer IV xylazine (220mg for 500kg horse) to analgese and sedate
key aspects of Hx and performe CE

Question 8

what are impt Hx questions pertaining to colic

Answer 8

• steroptypies eg windsucking, crib biting
• management (stables, pasture)
• parasite tx?
• changes to feeding or turnout
• hx of colic?

Question 9

what are the impt q regarding the colic episode to ask?

Answer 9

• when started
• duration
• how severe/actions
• feed in and poo out? d+?
• hx of grass sickness on the yard

Question 10

late stages of acute colic may present as trauma - dont forge to think. but what other forms of ‘fase colic’ are there?

Answer 10

EVERYTHING possible practically..

Question 11

what is the norm RR and HR and temp

Answer 11

HR - 28-44 (30)
RR = 12-15 (15)
T = 37.5-38.4

Question 12

describe what major features can be felt in rectal palpation of the horse - in quadrants

Answer 12

LD = SI
LV = L colon
RD = caecum
RV = R colon

Question 13

why is it impt to ascultate the abdo in horses

Answer 13

external palp impossible

listen for 1 min and record whether borborygmi -, ++ (norm), + (less) or hyper +++

Question 14

how can you ID the SI from small colon (asc)

Answer 14

inner tubes feel

Question 15

how can you ID the LI sections

Answer 15

taenia number and arrangement

Question 16

what ID features does the caecum have

Answer 16

vertical band

Question 17

name some common abnormalities in acute colic pres

Answer 17

dist SI
pelvic flexure, small colon, caecal impaction
LD/RD displacement
LI torsion

Question 18

why should abdominocentesis be conducted in acute colic cases

Answer 18

any GI wall changes = this will chnage too

Question 19

desc basic techn of abdominocentesis

Answer 19

• V midline
• clip and scrub
• 18g, 1.5inch needle
  CI in foals and if v distended

Question 20

why is it that if there is an intestinal blockage, the stomach can rupture

Answer 20

they cant vomit so still prod fluid –> put in a n-gasto tube. if you get >2L then thats significant!!

Question 21

why is colic in the foal difficult to assess

Answer 21

they dont like to show pain at all!
meconium impaction common
consider developmental abn and bladder rupture

Question 22

do donkeys usually show signs of colic?

Answer 22

no but impaction common. spinal needle req for abdominocentesis as fat bellied

Question 23

what is equine dysautonomia

Answer 23

grass sickness

Question 24

desc the dz of grass sickness

Answer 24

paralytic ileus
a, s/a and chronic
susp c. botulinum type c infection

Question 25

what is the definition of chronic colic

Answer 25

signs of variable intensity for 48hrs+

Question 26

what is the defin of recurrent colic

Answer 26

short episodes, variable intervals

Question 27

name som eGI causes of recurrent colic

Answer 27

intermittient/paritial obstruction
inflam
motility disorders
mesenteric traction/displacment

Question 28

what factors can you ask O to record/keep diary of for a case of recurr colic

Answer 28

• number and nature of colic episodes
• faecal output/d, kg loss, d+
• diet and intake
• FEC
• stereotypies, dental problems
• type of turnout

Question 29

what are the most likely cause og hypoalbuminaemia and hypoglobulinaemia?

Answer 29

GI losses

Question 30

what is the likely cause of hyperglobulinaemia

Answer 30

chronic infection/inflammation (cyathostominiasis)

Question 31

what is the likely reason for hyperfibrinogenaemoa

Answer 31

inf, inflm or neoplasia

Question 32

what acute phase protein is a good marker for colic progression

Answer 32

serum amyloid a

Question 33

after you have taken any serum biochem and a hx etc, what measurements need to be taken during stay in hosp?

Answer 33

temperature - several times a day. if varies consider abscess/neoplasia. take peritonal fluid

Question 34

desc process and value of oral glucose abs test

Answer 34

• only assessing SI ability
• starve overnight
  1g/kg in 20% sol via n-g tube
• dont sedate with a-2 as will dec motility

Question 35

why would rectal and duodenal bsy be wanted in the weight loss chronic colic case

Answer 35

IS any pathology there - assess villi etc

Question 36

what can you assess from trans rectal u/s

Answer 36

wall thickness of intestines
lumen size
motilty
abnalities

Question 37

name some ddx for protein-losing enteropathy / malabs

Answer 37

cyathostomins
strongyles
idiopth
infiltrative bowel dz
neoplasia
lawsonia in folas

Question 38

the aetiology of infiltrative bowel diseases are unknown, but they are granulomatous, eosinphillic or lymphocytic enteritis’es. whats the tx?

Answer 38

predn
dex
anthelmintics

Question 39

what is a multisystemic infiltrative bowel dz?? name 2

Answer 39

1. multisystemic eosinophillic epitheliotropic dz = coronary bnds, pancreas and liver. tx with dex
2. systemic granulomatous dz = skin and other affected

Question 40

name the 5 locations of equine lymphoma

Answer 40

1. alimentary = young horses
2. generalised = old horses
3. solitary = any age
4. cr. mediastinal = any age
5. cutaenous = any age

Question 41

what are the clinical clues of lymphosarcoma

Answer 41

• fever, kg loss
• peritonitis, pleural effusion, abdo distention
• hypercalcaemia, haemolysis, cachexia

Question 42

what is an ‘inflammatory’ haemogram

Answer 42

neutrophillia
hyperfibrinogenaemia
anaemia

Question 43

what are the most common causes of chronic bacterial infection

Answer 43

strep equi equi

rhodoco. equi

Question 44

how does the parasitic haemogram differ in horses to other mammal

Answer 44

NO eosinophillai

it is: neutrophillia, hypoalbuminaemia, hyperglobulinaemia

Question 45

what 3 parasites are the most common cause of coli

Answer 45

strongylus vulg = verminous arteritis and thromboembolic colic
cyathos = submucosal inflam
parascaris equorum

Question 46

gastric ulcers are a cause of kg loss and poor performance. what are the RF/

Answer 46

stress
acid injury - too much hCHO–> VFAs
horses continuously prod acid
low fibre diet = less saliva produced to neutralise

Question 47

signs of gastric ulcer =

Answer 47

kg loss poor performance
selective appetite (roughage not grain)
cranky

Question 48

which of squamous ulcer or glandular ulcer responds better at low doses of H+ pump inhib

Answer 48

squamous - @ 2mg/kg/d for 4wks whereas glandular - 4mg/kg/d 6wks