Equine

Question 1

What is the primary hydrolase from birth to 3 months in foals that digests lactose to glucose and galactose?

Answer 1

Lactase

Question 2

Gastric emptying is normally slower or faster in foals to facilitate digestion of milk?

Answer 2

Slower

Question 3

What segment of the foal’s gut experiences rapid growth when the foal is 1-4 weeks of age?

Answer 3

Small intestine

Question 4

What does an increase in time foraging correlate with?

Answer 4

Increase of length of hindgut (cecum and colon)

Question 5

What percentage of time does a 10-month-old foal spend grazing?

Answer 5

At least 60%

Question 6

What segments of the GI tract facilitate fiber digestion?

Answer 6

Cecum and large colon

Question 7

In adult horses with diarrhea, what part of the GI tract is compromised?

Answer 7

Large intestine

Question 8

How can you test dehydration status in foals vs. adult horses?

Answer 8

Foals - mucous membrane moisture
Adults - skin tent

Question 9

What are 2 reasons why PCV may be elevated?

Answer 9

Dehydration and/or splenic contraction

Question 10

Why is it important to measure total protein prior to rehydration?

Answer 10

Replacement fluid therapy will decrease total protein

Question 11

What changes in a horse with diarrhea are seen on bloodwork that suggest endotoxemia?

Answer 11

Leukopenia, neutropenia, left shift, and toxic changes

Question 12

T/F: Not finding sand in the hanging glove test rules out sand impaction

Answer 12

F

Question 13

What is the equation used to calculate maintenance fluid needs in a horse?

Answer 13

40-60ml/kg/day

Question 14

How do you calculate the amount of fluid a horse loses due to ongoing losses?

Answer 14

Estimate based on observation multiplied by 1.5-2x

Question 15

How should maintenance and on-going losses of fluids be delivered?

Answer 15

Continuous delivery at a constant rate

Question 16

How is the replacement volume of fluid determined?

Answer 16

Based on percent dehydrated x kg

Question 17

When should replacement fluids be administered during rehydration?

Answer 17

Deliver in first 6-12 hours

Question 18

If the horse is not refluxing, what route can be used for fluid delivery?

Answer 18

Enteral route

Question 19

When using plasma (colloid) to maintain oncotic pressure, if you wanted to raise protein concentration 1g/dL in a 500kg horse, how many liters of commercial plasma would that horse require?

Answer 19

4-5L

Question 20

What is the recommended dose of hetastarch?

Answer 20

5-10ml/kg IV

Question 21

If hetastarch has been used as the colloid replacement, will the TP concentration increase or decrease after the hetastarch has been delivered?

Answer 21

Decreased, but it won’t be measured on refractometer

Question 22

Give 2 examples of electrolytes that can be supplemented in water made available to affected horses.

Answer 22

Bicarbonate and potassium

Question 23

What should always be available to a horse with diarrhea, even if there are buckets of electrolyte water available?

Answer 23

Free choice fresh water

Question 24

What is the antibiotic of choice for treating Potomac Horse Fever?

Answer 24

Oxytetracycline

Question 25

What pathogen causes Potomac horse fever?

Answer 25

Neorickettsia risticii

Question 26

What is the name of the product that can be administered to a horse with diarrhea that will bind toxins in the gut?

Answer 26

Biosponge

Question 27

What does Biosponge contain that allows it to bind toxins?

Answer 27

Di-Tri-Octahedral smectite

Question 28

What is considered the most effective treatment for laminitis prevention in horses?

Answer 28

Ice boots

Question 29

What NSAID is often administered to a horse with GI disease to reduce the inflammatory events associated with endotoxemia?

Answer 29

Flunixin meglumine (aka Banamine)

Question 30

Potomac Horse Fever is an infectious cause of diarrhea in weanlings and adult horses. Can it be transmitted through direct contact from horse to horse?

Answer 30

No

Question 31

What diagnostic test can be used for most infectious causes of diarrhea?

Answer 31

Adult fecal PCR

Question 32

What stain should be used when looking for Neorickettsia risticii?

Answer 32

Romanowsky's stain

Question 33

What is the best recommendation to a farmer for preventing Potomac Horse Fever?

Answer 33

Vaccination

Question 34

Does the PHF vaccine fully protect horses against disease?

Answer 34

No, but it does lessen the severity of disease

Question 35

What part of the GI tract is most susceptible to ulceration from NSAID use?

Answer 35

Right dorsal colon

Question 36

T/F: Normal right dorsal colon thickness does not rule out NSAID toxicity.

Answer 36

T

Question 37

What is your diet recommendation for a horse with NSAID toxicity?

Answer 37

High fiber diet that is low bulk

Question 38

What do blister beetles produce and where is it most commonly found?

Answer 38

Produce cantharidin; most common in alfalfa hay that is second or third-cutting

Question 39

In addition to diarrhea caused by severe ulceration of mucosa, what other organ system can be damaged by blister beetles?

Answer 39

Cardiac system - cardiac arrhythmias

Question 40

How do most horses with sand colic present?

Answer 40

Chronic diarrhea or low grade colic

Question 41

What can you feed to horses with sand colic that will trap sand and eliminate it?

Answer 41

Psyllium

Question 42

Where do foals tend to develop edema first?

Answer 42

In the shoulder area

Question 43

Foal heat usually occurs during the mare's first or second heat cycle post-parturition. What is the treatment?

Answer 43

Usually resolves without treatment

Question 44

What can be done to prevent parasitic causes of diarrhea in foals? 2 answers.

Answer 44

Deworm mare prior to parturition and start deworming foal at 6 weeks

Question 45

What is the name of the virus causing mild to severe diarrhea in foals 1 week to 2 months of age that has high morbidity but low mortality?

Answer 45

Rotavirus

Question 46

Is rotavirus contagious?

Answer 46

Very!