Equine colic Flashcards
Severe classic case
- acute pain
- flank watching
- pawing
- kicking belly
- up and down
- rolling
- increased HR
- decreased gut sounds
- decreased feces
- no appetite
Mild classic case
- decreased appetite
- lethargic
- laying down but will get up
- decreased manure
- decreased GI sounds
- mildly increased HR
Saliva is acidic or basic
basic ( buffer for acid )
- decreased production with decreased chewing
Esophageal muscle
Proximal 2/3 = striated
Distal 1/3 = smooth
Stomach
- 10 L capacity
- produces acid continuously
- quick transit time
Small intestine
heals slower than large intestine
Horses are hind gut- or fore gut- fermenters?
Hind gut fermenters ( unlike cows who are fore gut fermenters )
fermentation in Large colon and cecum
Medical types of colic
- tympanic ( gas )
- spasmodic
- impaction
- poor motility ( ileum )
- inflammatory (enteritis)
Surgical types of colic
- twists ( torsion/ volvulus )
- entrapments
- infarctions or emboli
- masses(intra or extra- lumens )
- displacements
Spasmodic/tympanic colics
- MOST COMMON**
- gas distention
- parasitism
- any part of GIT
- can be idiopathic, due to feed change , stress, etc
Inflammatory colics
- GIT ulcer
- Enteritis ( anterior colitis, lawsonia, idiopathic, or anaphylaxis
- parasitism
- peritonitis
- adhesions
Mass related colics
- intraluminal or extraluminal masses
- enteroliths, fecaliths
- meconium (neonates)
- tumors
- abscesses
- foreign body
Impaction ( simple obstruction ) colics
- Ingesta vs sand ( regional) vs parasites
- location varies:
ileum, pelvic flexure, cecum, small colon, stomach - outcomes vary depending on severity/ location
Strangulating obstruction colics
- SI or LI
- lipoma
- mesenteric rent
- ligament or foramen entrapment
- volvulus, torsion
- inguinal or umbilical hernia
- intussusception
Nonstrangulating obstruction colics
- SI or LI
- large colon displacements
- LC impactions
- LC masses
- congenital abnormalities ( or strangulating )
Non-GIT causes of colic
- liver disease
- repro tract disease
- urinary tract disease
- diaphragmatic hernia
- hemoabdomen
Predisposed to fecaliths
Miniature horses
Predisposed to enteroliths
Arabians
Cribbing is associated with what types of colics
- gas colic
- epiploic foramen entrapment
Predisposed to large colon torsions
Broodmares
Predisposed to gastric ulcers
performance horses
Eating Bermuda grass hay predisposes horses to what type of colic
ileal impaction
Eating high concentrate diets predisposes horses to what type of colic
gastric or colonic ulceration
Eating alfalfa hay in the west coast predisposes horses to what type of colic
enteroliths
who’s more likely to colic? Horses on pastures 24/7 or stalled horses?
stalled horses
Strangulating lipomas are more common in horses that are :
older and obese
Buscapan
- anticholinergic
- falsely increases HR
Distended large bowel feels like
tight toenail band
Distended small bowel feels like
Bicycle tires
Normal Nasogastric reflux
- less than 1 L
- pleasant smelling
- watery reflux
Abnormal NG reflux
- foul smelling gas
and/ or - greater than 2 L of malodorous, yellow or red liquid/feed
When not to give fluids by NG tube
- > 2 L reflux
- concerned about obstruction or ileus
Severe neutropenia
think rupture or severe toxemia
increased GGT with what colic
Right dorsal displacement of the large colon
Important characteristics of abdominocentesis fluid
- Normal fluid = pale yellow
- foul fluid = GI rupture
- serosanguinous color = most rapid indicator of needed Sx
- patient needs referral if
- the fluid is turbid with high total solids
- high lactate
- high cell count
location of abdominocentesis
one hand with behind sternum and one hand with to the right
- to avoid the spleen
Evidence of medical colic
- diarrhea or colitis (diarrhea, increased GI sounds, neutropenia)
- anterior enteritis (reddish-brown NG reflux)
- fever
- high fibrinogen
- impaction palpated
- mild pain
Evidence of Surgical colic
- ** PAIN ** ( non responsive to appropriate analgesia
- rectal - abnormal, severe distension
- NG intubation - copious reflux
- markedly increased lactate
- abdominocentesis fluid = serosanguinous , markedly increased lactate levels
Medical treatment/ pre-meds for Sx tx :
- analgesics (alpha 2 agonists), (partial mu antagonist opioid), (NSAIDs)
- Spasmolytics ( Buscopan )
- CRIs ( lidocaine, detomidine )
enteral fluid components ( given only if < 2 L NG reflux)
- MgSO4 = osmotic
- mineral oil ( lubricate ingest )
- dioctyl sodium succinate (surfactant to reduce gas bubbles)
- psyllium and mineral oil ( for sand )
Colloids MUST be followed with what within 1 hour
crystalloids
Therapies used during medical management of colic
- repeated NG decompression
- trocarization
- withhold feed ( reintroduce slowly after colic is gone, pain meds wore off, and horse is passing manure
Prognosis ( large colon displacement )
excellent usually
Prognosis ( large colon torsion)
guarded , worsens with duration
Prognosis (small intestinal lesions)
guarded, depending on degree of bowel damage
complications of colic
- surgical anesthesia - related
- incisional infections
- post op ileus
- peritonitis ( fibrin on necropsy )
- repeat colic/ adhesions
- laminitis
- jugular vein thrombosis
- pneumonia
Tx of left dorsal displacement of the colon ( some )
- phenylephrine
- lunging
Lawsonia intracellularis causes :
- proliferative enteropathy
CS - lethargy, inappetence, intermittent diarrhea, weight loss, ventral edema due to marked hypoproteinemia
MC age horses get Lawsonia intracellularis :
foals 4 - 6 months of age
- can affect foals from 3- 12 months old though
Treatment of Lawsonia intracellularis
Tetracyclines
