Equine EMS tips Flashcards
What does it mean if a horse is ‘signed out’ of the food chain?
they have been given a drug which means their meat should never enter the food chain. this is marked in section 9.
Common horse vaccinations
Most commonly influenza (series initially then every 6-12 months) and tetanus (series initially then boost every 2 years)
Competing horses - Equine influenza
Others - Strangles, EVA (breeding animals), EHV (broodmares)
Common horse internal parasites - 6
- Red worms (small - cyathostomins are encysted. Large - strongylus vulgaris)
- Large roundworms (ascarids - parascaris equorum)
- Tapeworm (Anoplocephala perfoliata)
- Bots (Gasterophilus intestinalis)
- Pin worms (Oxyuris equi –> itchy tail)
- Thread worms (Strongyloides westeri - foals)
Which internal parasite is associated with recurrent colic?
Tapeworm - Anoplocephala perfoliata
If a Parascaris equorum larvae burden is killed too quickly with anthelmintic what is the risk?
impaction colic
What do pin worms (Oxyuris equi) cause?
itchiness around tail but not v. pathogenic (aesthetic appearance).
Internal parasites associated with foals
Strongyloides - early infection (milk), causes diarrhoea
Parascaris equorum - large roundworm, intestinal obstruction
Internal parasites associated with older foals
Larval cyathostominosis - small strongyles encysted, mass emergence/treatment with anthelmintic, ill thrift, weight loss, oedema, diarrhoea, all ages of horses, diagnosis challenging
Tapeworm - accumulate at illeocaecal junction
Main classes of anthelmintics
Ivermectin/moxidectin Fenbendazole (=Panacur) Pyrantel Praziquantel (for tapeworms) Combinations
Outline regular anthelmintic treatment for horses
No longer a schedule
Except - encysted cyathostomins and tapeworm on a schedule. Otherwise treat based on FECs.
How often are quine shoes replaced?
every 6 weeks
Outline equine sedative drugs - 3
ALPHA 2 AGONISTS: administer IV or IM, act as analgesics too, Xylazine (short acting, 20 minutes), Romifidine (longer acting, 40 minutes), Detomidine (longer acting, 40 minutes)
OPIOIDS: also act as analgesics, butorphanol most commonly used - used in combination with alpha 2s to improve sedation, IM or IV.
ACEPROMAZINE: mild sedation, administer IV, IM or PO.
Outline common equine antimicrobials - 5
Remember the cascade!
- TMPS (licensed) - BS, cheap and PO administration
- PENICILLIN (Licensed) - must be IM (procaine), primarily gram positive spectrum
- DOXYCYCLINE (not licensed) and OXYTETRACYCLINE - give PO and IV, BS, relatively cheap
- CEPHALOSPORINS (licensed) - ceftiofur and cefquinome only, injectable only, BS, relatively expensive, not first line treatment - reserve for humans if possible.
- ENROFLOXACIN (not licensed) - give PO or IV, mainly gram negative, also essential for human health.
Outline common equine anti-inflammatories
NSAIDs and corticosteroids:
> NSAIDs: several options with different administration routes, vet preference. PHENYLBUTAZONE common despite not being licensed. Horse must be signed out of passport. PO, IV, cheap. Alternatively SUXIBUZONE which is a pro-drug of PBZ, PO only, not licensed for food horses. FLUNIXIN - give PO or IV. MELOXICAM - give PO or IV, may be more COX selective - possibly less side effects.
> CORTICOSTEROIDS: be aware of link between use and laminitis. Discuss with owner. Prednisolone and dexamethasone. Administer PO, IV, IM or local
What is strangles?
Respiratory disease Steptococcus equi equi Contagious Snotty nose, fever, lymphadenopathy, multiple horses TEST: culture, PCR, serology
What is RAO?
Recurrent Airway Obstruction (previously called COPD but this is incorrect)
Older horses
Increased RR and RE, cough, exercise intolerance
Allergic reaction to mould/allergens
MANAGE: remove allergens/live outside, steroids, bronchodilators as necessary.
What are the main drugs used in colic?
NSAIDs
Buscopan (spasmolytic)
Alpha-2 agonists - short term analgesia, restraint
What are non-specific treatments for colic?
Mild exercise - improve GI motility
Don’t allow to eat until comfortable
Oral fluids via NGT - water, isotonic fluids, magnesium sulphate, liquid paraffin
What is choke?
oesophageal obstruction
Where do most cases of lameness localise to anatomically?
the foot - if no obvious source treat with a period of NSAIDs and box rest. If still in pain - further diagnostics analgesia (nerve blocks)
What is ‘pus in the foot’?
= foot abscess
very lame until drainage
focally sensitive to hoof testers
warm foot, increased digital pulses
What is mud fever?
= pastern dermatitis, skin condition of the pasterns, especially in wet weather. scabs, secondary bacterial infection, needs to be kept dry, treat locally, rarely need systemic ABs, very difficult to manage
What is sweet itch?
= culicoides hypersensitivity
allergic to midge bites –> avoid midges
densensitisation possible with vaccine
Treat pruritis: steroids
What is PPID?
= pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, i.e. Cushings
Older horses, non-specific CS
Hirsutism
What is EMS?
Equine Metabolic Syndrome, probably best to call it ‘insulin dysregulation’ which is increased insulin responses to oral surgars, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance.
Genetic predisposition
DIAGNOSIS: oral glucose test, fasting insulin concentration
What is the most common eye disease in horses?
superficial corneal ulcer
Also common are conjunctivitis and uveitis (Equine Recurrent Uveitis - multiple episodes of ocular pain, no ulceration, topical steroids, topical atropine, systemic NSAIDs.
Outline ocular therapeutics
Topical
Antimicrobials
Atropine (dilates pupil and increases comfort)
Systemic anti-inflammatories
Define bog spavin
Hock swelling, non-painful
Define bone spavin
Arthritis of the hock joints, lame
Define windgalls
fetlock or tendon sheath swelling
Define canker
infection resulting in chronic hypertrophy of horn-producing tissues. one or more feet, draft breeds most commonly
Define poll evil/fistulous withers
rare, inflammation/infection of bursa, occasional association with Brucella infection
Define ‘puffy legs/stocked up’
distal limb oedema, usually due to stall confinement
Define ‘pottery’ gait
short-stepping gait, often seen in laminitis
Define ‘not going forward’ or ‘not accepting the bit’
both terms suggest the horse is not as willing as previously to be active - lameness or other problem
What is cribbing?
a stereotypical behaviour where the horse grabbing a solid object such as the stall door or fence rail with its incisors, then arching its neck, pulling against the object, and sucking in air.
Define PPE
Pre Purchase Exam
What are the stages of vetting/PPE? 5
- preliminary exam
- walk and trot, in hand
- exercise phase
- rest and re-examination
- second trot-up
What are the 3 main components of an equine diet?
roughage + concentrate (+supplement/minerals)
