Equine Diarrhoea Flashcards
How does the colon differ in foals compared to adults?
Less developed due to milk diet
Is diarrhoea in adult horses SI or LI?
Large intestine
Is diarrhoea in foals LI or SI?
Either!
What are the most likely causes of diarrhoea in neonate horses?
Foal heat disease
Rotavirus
Salmonella
Clostridia
What are the most likely causes of diarrhoea in foals aged <1yo?
Parasitic
Proliferative enteropathy (lawsonia intercelluaris)
Salmonella
Clostridia
What are the most likely causes of diarrhoea in adult horses?
Salmonella
Clostridia
Idiopathic
What are the signs of acute diarrhoea in the horse?
Acute onset diarrhoea
Hypovolaemia
Endotoxaemia
What are the most likely causes of acute diarrhoea in adult horses?
Salmonella Parasites NSAID toxicity Sand enteropathy Carbohydrate overload Undiagnosed
What are the most likely causes of chronic diarrhoea in the adult horse?
Salmonella Parasites Sand enteropathy Diet Undiagonsed
What are the risk factors of developing diarrhoea in the horse?
Treatment with NSAIDs
No anthelmintics
Treatment with ABs
Contact with other horses with D+
How is diarrhoea treated in the horse?
Fluid therapy
Reduce inflammation and endotoxaemia
Address specific cause
What is an endotoxin?
Part of the outer membrane of a G-ve bacteria, released during cell death or rapid growth
How does endotoxaemia occur?
Mucosal barrier breakdown > endotoxins entering circulation
What are the clinical signs of endotoxaemia?
Depression Tachycardia Tachypnoea Pyrexia Colic Diarrhoea Hyperaemic mms.
What does CBC show during endotoxaemia?
Low WBCs
Low neutrophils
Band neutrophils
