Equine and farm animal Emergency Nursing

Question 1

Define colic

Answer 1

Refers to any condition that causes abdominal pain

Question 2

What should the typical exam for colic assess?

Answer 2

Pain, attitude, TPR, MM color, CRT, and GI motility- (degree of pain can be related to severity of GI disease)

Question 3

Describe mild pain signs

Answer 3

Pawing, stretching out- w/ or w/op attempts to urinate, curling upper lip (flehmen response), standing quietly w/o desire to move or eat. Frequently respond to light sedation or mild exercise

Question 4

Describe moderate pain signs

Answer 4

Same as mild- with HR above 50 bpm, may attempt to repeatedly lie down and stand up, occasionally roll while recumbent, only comfortable for short time (less that 1 hr) or not at all despite sedation

Question 5

Describe severe pain signs

Answer 5

Manifests as violent attempts to throw themselves to the ground, inability to stand for short periods, constant rolling while down, banging of the side of head on the ground. Sedation may have no effect

Question 6

List supplies/procedures for colic workup

Answer 6

NG intubation, CBC,chem, PCV/TP, lacate/fibrinogen levels, sedation, IV cath, abdominal US, rectal exam. abdominocentesis

Question 7

Why should equine p examined for abdominal pain have NG intubation performed?

Answer 7

Equines don’t typically vomit- severe bloat can cause stomach to rupture

Question 8

How does a p with upper respiratory tract emergency present?

Answer 8

Severe distress, anxiety and loud noise on inspiration (inspiratory stridor). (Almost always result of obstruction of airflow to the lungs)

Question 9

What are lower respiratory emergencies typically caused by?

Answer 9

Pneumonia, asthma or a failure to inflate the lungs (caused by pneumothorax)

Question 10

How is pneumonia characterized?

Answer 10

Abnormal lung sounds including crackles and wheezes

Question 11

How is asthma characterized?

Answer 11

Rapid shallow breaths, expiratory stridor and abnormal lung sounds

Question 12

How is pneumothorax characterized?

Answer 12

Rapid, shallow breathing, expiratory stridor, NO lung sounds

Question 13

In what portion of the neck of an equine p is a tracheotomy performed?

Answer 13

Typically between the cranial and middle third of the neck

Question 14

How is distal limb defined in reference to an equine p?

Answer 14

Any area below the carpus or tarsus

Question 15

List guidelines for stabilizing equine fractures

Answer 15

Stabilize p and control hemorrhage, relieve pain and anxiety, control wound infection, prevent neurovascular trauma, prevent trauma to muscle and skin adjacent to FX site, minimize trauma to FXed bone ends

Question 16

True or false? It is contraindicated to further stabilize proximal hindlimb FX

Answer 16

True- the area is heavily muscled and it could further increase trauma to fx site by applying stabilization

Question 17

For bovine p- what are the 2 most acute life-threatening conditions of the abdomen

Answer 17

Volvulus of the abomasum and volvulus of the cecum

Question 18

What is the norm pH of bovine rumen?

Answer 18

~7

Question 19

What is the best option to help/support a down cow for prolonged periods

Answer 19

Hydroflotation

Question 20

Define dystocia

Answer 20

Difficult birth

Question 21

Define a Krey-hook

Answer 21

Device that can be used to grab fetal parts when a fetotomy is performed

Question 22

Define fetotomy

Answer 22

Cutting a dead fetus into smaller parts that can be extracted more easily

Question 23

Define fetatome

Answer 23

Device that uses obstetric wire to perform fetotomy

Question 24

Bovine: define breech presentation

Answer 24

Rump is presented first- must be repositioned before a vaginal birth possible

Question 25

Where is a C-section performed on an awake ruminant

Answer 25

Left flank