eq colic Flashcards
what are the signs of colic
flank watching lying down pawing ground rolling restless thrashing
why is colic so common
LI is large and very loosely/not at all attached! so it goes wandering
where are the common places that obstructions ocur
sternal, diaphragmatic, pelic flexures
how can colic lead to shock
loss of vascular supply
abs of endotox into circulation
SIRS
name the 7 main diff colic classifications
spasmodics impaction distention obstruction infarction inflam idiopathic
what advice would you give an O about a colicing horse before you arrive
- wellbedded stable
- remove buckets/feed/anything it could hurt itself on
- let it roll
- walk it for 10 mins max if you really want
if the horse is violently painful - how do you assess it safely??
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
what are impt Hx questions pertaining to colic
- steroptypies eg windsucking, crib biting
- management (stables, pasture)
- parasite tx?
- changes to feeding or turnout
- hx of colic?
what are the impt q regarding the colic episode to ask?
- when started
- duration
- how severe/actions
- feed in and poo out? d+?
- hx of grass sickness on the yard
late stages of acute colic may present as trauma - dont forge to think. but what other forms of ‘fase colic’ are there?
EVERYTHING possible practically..
what is the norm RR and HR and temp
HR - 28-44 (30)
RR = 12-15 (15)
T = 37.5-38.4
describe what major features can be felt in rectal palpation of the horse - in quadrants
LD = SI LV = L colon RD = caecum RV = R colon
why is it impt to ascultate the abdo in horses
external palp impossible
listen for 1 min and record whether borborygmi -, ++ (norm), + (less) or hyper +++
how can you ID the SI from small colon (asc)
inner tubes feel
how can you ID the LI sections
taenia number and arrangement
what ID features does the caecum have
vertical band
name some common abnormalities in acute colic pres
dist SI
pelvic flexure, small colon, caecal impaction
LD/RD displacement
LI torsion
why should abdominocentesis be conducted in acute colic cases
any GI wall changes = this will chnage too
desc basic techn of abdominocentesis
- V midline
- clip and scrub
- 18g, 1.5inch needle
CI in foals and if v distended
why is it that if there is an intestinal blockage, the stomach can rupture
they cant vomit so still prod fluid –> put in a n-gasto tube. if you get >2L then thats significant!!
why is colic in the foal difficult to assess
they dont like to show pain at all!
meconium impaction common
consider developmental abn and bladder rupture
do donkeys usually show signs of colic?
no but impaction common. spinal needle req for abdominocentesis as fat bellied
what is equine dysautonomia
grass sickness
desc the dz of grass sickness
paralytic ileus
a, s/a and chronic
susp c. botulinum type c infection
what is the definition of chronic colic
signs of variable intensity for 48hrs+
what is the defin of recurrent colic
short episodes, variable intervals
name som eGI causes of recurrent colic
intermittient/paritial obstruction
inflam
motility disorders
mesenteric traction/displacment
what factors can you ask O to record/keep diary of for a case of recurr colic
- number and nature of colic episodes
- faecal output/d, kg loss, d+
- diet and intake
- FEC
- stereotypies, dental problems
- type of turnout
what are the most likely cause og hypoalbuminaemia and hypoglobulinaemia?
GI losses
what is the likely cause of hyperglobulinaemia
chronic infection/inflammation (cyathostominiasis)
what is the likely reason for hyperfibrinogenaemoa
inf, inflm or neoplasia
what acute phase protein is a good marker for colic progression
serum amyloid a
after you have taken any serum biochem and a hx etc, what measurements need to be taken during stay in hosp?
temperature - several times a day. if varies consider abscess/neoplasia. take peritonal fluid
desc process and value of oral glucose abs test
- only assessing SI ability
- starve overnight
1g/kg in 20% sol via n-g tube - dont sedate with a-2 as will dec motility
why would rectal and duodenal bsy be wanted in the weight loss chronic colic case
IS any pathology there - assess villi etc
what can you assess from trans rectal u/s
wall thickness of intestines
lumen size
motilty
abnalities
name some ddx for protein-losing enteropathy / malabs
cyathostomins strongyles idiopth infiltrative bowel dz neoplasia lawsonia in folas
the aetiology of infiltrative bowel diseases are unknown, but they are granulomatous, eosinphillic or lymphocytic enteritis’es. whats the tx?
predn
dex
anthelmintics
what is a multisystemic infiltrative bowel dz?? name 2
- multisystemic eosinophillic epitheliotropic dz = coronary bnds, pancreas and liver. tx with dex
- systemic granulomatous dz = skin and other affected
name the 5 locations of equine lymphoma
- alimentary = young horses
- generalised = old horses
- solitary = any age
- cr. mediastinal = any age
- cutaenous = any age
what are the clinical clues of lymphosarcoma
- fever, kg loss
- peritonitis, pleural effusion, abdo distention
- hypercalcaemia, haemolysis, cachexia
what is an ‘inflammatory’ haemogram
neutrophillia
hyperfibrinogenaemia
anaemia
what are the most common causes of chronic bacterial infection
strep equi equi
rhodoco. equi
how does the parasitic haemogram differ in horses to other mammal
NO eosinophillai
it is: neutrophillia, hypoalbuminaemia, hyperglobulinaemia
what 3 parasites are the most common cause of coli
strongylus vulg = verminous arteritis and thromboembolic colic
cyathos = submucosal inflam
parascaris equorum
gastric ulcers are a cause of kg loss and poor performance. what are the RF/
stress
acid injury - too much hCHO–> VFAs
horses continuously prod acid
low fibre diet = less saliva produced to neutralise
signs of gastric ulcer =
kg loss poor performance
selective appetite (roughage not grain)
cranky
which of squamous ulcer or glandular ulcer responds better at low doses of H+ pump inhib
squamous - @ 2mg/kg/d for 4wks whereas glandular - 4mg/kg/d 6wks
