Equine Flashcards
Name 3 signs of NI in foals.
Normal at birth
Pale/icteric MM
Lethargy
Tachycardia
What is the cause of neonatal isoerythrolysis?
Ingestion of maternal colostrum containing antibodies against the foal’s RBCs → haemolytic anaemia
Most common blood types to cause it are QA and AA
Treatment of neonatal isoerythrolysis
- Prevent from further suckling
- If cold then needs IV fluids with glucose
- If suck reflex can do a nasogastric tube
- Monitor CV parameters
- May need whole blood transfusion if PCV <15%
- Hyperimmune plasma as FPT likely
- Enteral feeding
- Keep warm as likely hypothermic
- May need oxygen
- Amikacin/gentamycin prophylaxis if FPT
What is the most important diagnostic test for guttural pouch mycosis?
Endoscopy of the guttural pouch (look for fungal plaques)
Differentials for epistaxis
- EIPH
- PEH
- Fungal mycoses
- Rectus capitus avulsion
- Trauma
- Iatrogenic
- Neoplasia (nasal/sinus)
Differentials for recumbent 18hr foal
- Neonatal maladjustment syndrome
- NI
- Meconium impaction
- Uroperitoneum
- FPT leading to septicaemia
What is the gold standard test for Strangles?
Guttural pouch lavage for PCR + culture
Differentials for intertarsal joint effusion
- Slab fracture of C3
- Synovial sepsis
- OC or OCD
- Synovitis
- Osteoarthritis (young but possible if previous synovial sepsis or injury)
- Previous insults to joint
- Subchondral bone cyst
Approach to a colic case
- TPR and listen to borborygmi before analgesia and buscopan (transient tachycardia)
- Ideally avoid sedation but if needed use xylazine (short acting)
- Pass NG tube
- Rectal
- Flash scan +/- abdominocentesis
- Fluid: serosanguinous – strangulating, compare lactate levels to blood
- Blood lactate levels should be <2
- PCV/TP
- Check actually colic – feel the feet and check for laminitis
Factors prompting referral in colic cases
- Refractory to pain
- Injected MM
- Declining CV parameters
- Refluxing >2L of fluid
- Tachycardia >60
- Concerning findings on rectal – small intestine
Management of clitoral Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
- Identify if carrier or active endometritis
- Care swabbing endometrium as can iatrogenically cause infection
- Look for other signs like fluid filled uterus and vulval discharge (impressive)
- Isolate filly until solved and no coverings
- Pseudomonas – can be passed on congenitally – check parents
- If carrier: scrub clitoris with povidone iodine regularly
o Sensitive to acidic conditions – dilute actic acid or hydrochloric acid
o Large volume lavage
o Silver nitrate between washes to avoid drying out the clitoris
o Pack with antibiotic cream – gentamycin
o Use a broth to re-establish the normal flora
o Clitorectomy advised for carriers - If active endometritis
o Dilute large volume lavages with saline daily for 5 days
o Give antibiotics and oxytocin
o Culture and sensitivity
o Broth after treatment
* Swab 7 days after finishing treatment and every 7 days until 3 sets of negative swabs
Clinical signs of sweet itch
- Intense pruritis
- Alopecia
- Lichenification
- Excoriation from self trauma
- Dorsal distribution
Differentials for an ichy horse (dorsal mane and tail)
Sweet itch
Oxyuriasis (pinworm)
Dermatophytosis (ringworm)
Atopic dermatitis
Mange
Rain scald
Contact dermatitis
Aetiology of sweet itch
Type I and IV Hypersensitivity to Culicoides spp. Bites
Signs of equine influenza
o Mild upper respiratory signs
o Dry cough
o Biphasic pyrexia
o Stiffness due to pain and discomfort
o Lymphadenopathy
Signs of tetanus
o Sore horse stance
o Tail head stiffness
o Behavioural changes e.g. sensitivity to light
o Lock jaw
o Spastic paralysis
o Death
Vaccine protocols for flu and tet
Primary course from 5mo
1st -> 21-60d -> 120-180d
Annual/biannual boosters of flu
Every 2 or 3 years tet
Aetiology of strangles
Strep equi var equi
Diagnosis of strangles
PCR of NP swab or guttural pouch swab
Culture of guttural pouch wash
Guttural pouch endoscopy to visualise
Test the in-contacts and test for other causes of respiratory signs
ELISA available but not very sensitive so no point
Yard management of strangles
Traffic light system: red have disease – isolate, ambers are in contacts – constantly monitor temperature, green – keep away from other groups
Good hygiene – clean equipment and self, foot dips, hand hygiene
Different tools
Close the yard
Quarantine any new arrivals when not in outbreak
Apporach to bilateral hindlimb lameness
History – scuffing, back pain etc
Clinical exam
Static ortho exam – heat, swelling, effusion, bony proliferation, do all four legs, hoof testers
Observe walking away and towards
Trot if not acutely lame- not tracking up, scuffing hooves
Circles, lunge
Flexion tests – difficult to separate in hind limbs
Diagnostic analgesia
Radiography
Radiographic signs of osteoarthritis
- Irregular periosteal new bone formation
- Osteophytes
- Enthesophytes
- Joint effusion
- Narrowing of joint space
- Thickening of joint capsule
Management of osteoarthritis
- Conservative: weight management, good farriery, little and often, analgesia
- Intra-articular steroids
- Hyaluronic acid, PSAGs, interleukin receptor antagonist protein (IRAP)
- Ankylosis – check no communication with distal joint
- Surgical arthrodesis
Apporach to retained foetal membranes
- Risk of endotoxaemia and laminitis
- Regular walking out
- IV oxytocin, encourage foal to suck
- Tie up placenta, poss add weight
- If not by 12hrs lavage with warm saline to stimulate uterine contraction
- If emergency use Burns method – NG tube into uterus, sterile saline to slowly detatch from endometrium
- Laminitis prophylaxis
- Prophylactic antibiotics – IV oxytet, PO doxycycline
- Monitor for signs of shock
- When does come out check all there as may need uterine lavage to remove fragments
