Equine first aid Flashcards
equine lameness causes?
foot abscess synovial infection tendon or ligament injury fracture lymphangitis
non-weight bearing lameness?
requires immediate attention
- avoid moving horse - bring everything to them
investigations
- external observations - swelling or wound?
- x-rays
- ultrasound
- synoviocentesis
- surgery - flush joint
clinical signs of foot abscess?
lameness
heat
strong pulse
treatment for foot abscess?
hot bucket of water or hot poultice - draw puss out fluid bag - holds puss and softens area gently move around - pushed fluid out make sure keep clean - dressings
solar penetration?
when a foreign body penetrates hoof and has reached its structures
solar penetration diagnosis?
x-ray
contrast material
solar penetration treatment?
leave in if safe - removal could cause more damage
add padding
if removed keep clean with dressing
wound considerations/observations?
consider location - over joint = serious as chance of sepsis check for discharge - infection? - joint fluid? swelling - ligament/tendon damage? - infection? lameness likely
check up to date with tetanus - common in horses
synovial infection?
a wound around joint, bursa or synovial area
- prone to joint sepsis
synovial infection signs?
lameness
high temperature in area
swelling around joint/sheath
wound may not be obvious - eg puncture from thorn
synovial infection treatment?
emergency
flushing - GA is gold standard but can be standing
tendon strains and joint sepsis treatment?
require first aid treatment
- cold hose - reduce inflammation
- support bandage - in both limbs
- sole support on good limb as taking most weight
- minimise movement
long term treatment
- low blood flow so healing slow
- box rest - some careful walks over time
- NSAIDs
- protein rich platelets injections from own blood
- shock wave - pulse of energy to stimulate circulation
tendon strains and joint sepsis diagnosis?
ultrasound
- black hole where tendon is damaged
tendon ruptures?
very serious
extreme lameness
depends on location: can lose sensory tendon at the front if flexor tendon nothing can be done - fetlock will sink to floor - euthanasia
fractures treatment?
common
- need to protect and stop displacement
- avoid moving and keep bedding clean and soft
require robert jones bandage
- thick dressing to immobilise limb
- encapsulate fracture
splints
- stay on toe
- all weight off lower limbs
- quick way to immobalise
surgery
- fracture repair using metal pins
treatment
- cross tied - stop movement
- food and water head height
- but need time to have head down to drain nostrils and lungs
lymphangitis causes and signs?
inflammation and infections of lymphatic system due to distal infection
- damages lymph vessels/nodes so will be susceptible
causes
- mud fever
- opening allows bacteria in
signs
- cut or wound
- swelling
- very painful - cant touch
lymphangitis treatment?
antibiotics NSAIDs check tetanus up to date walk gently massage stable bandage
laminitis? treatment?
inflammation of laminae
- causes rotation of bone
- 7% of equine deaths - emergency
- very painful
treatment
- NSAIDs
- box rest and dietary changes - low sugar
- support bandages
- foot support/foot pads - putty around frog and sole
- thick/soft bedding - shaving or paper
- ice boots
- teramisin spray
colic causes?
abdominal pain can be: - gastro-intestinal pain - urogentital tract pain - thoracic pain
causes
- blockages
- impaction - coca-cola can break it down
- spasmotic colic - pass on own
- distention - displacement/impaction
- lipomas - fatty lumps strangulate
can be emergency
- obstruction of stomach can cause rupture and death
colic diagnosis?
ultrasound abdominocentis - belly tap blood tests reflux tests - stirrup tube - close to rupturing
colic observations?
TPR and MMS temperature before rectalled degree of pain progression - any gut sounds? faeces abdominal distension reflux signs - close to rupturing external injury fluid build-up in stomach - belly tap - needle and sample
colic treatment?
treatment - dependant on individual
- remove food and water
- pain relief and light sedation
- IVFT - rehydrate and losen impaction
- walking - good if displacement but could lie down causing injury
- liquid paraffin - stop impaction
- surgery to correct
choke signs?
blockage in upper resp or digestive tract
signs
- food from nostrils
- gagging or retching
- stretching neck out
choke treatment and after care?
treatment
- remove food and water
- keep head down
- massage neck
- endoscope - pick, pull and flush to dislodge
after care
- antibiotics
- NSAIDs
- soft food
- keep nostrils clean
exertional rhabdomyolysis signs? diagnosis? treatment?
muscles cramp during physical activity
- dangerous disorder
- cant uncramp so musles dissolve
- can collapse
signs
- dark urine - broken down muscle fibres
- reluctant to move
- mild colic signs
external rhabdomyolysis diagnosis?
physical exam
bloods
muscle biopsy
external rhabdomyolysis treatment
don't move keep warm vet immediately fluids - replace electrolytes pain management muscle relaxants
atypical myopathy signs?
seasonal pasture myopathy
- highly fatal muscle disease
caused by sycamore seeds
- toxic to horses
clinical signs
- muscular stiffness
- reluctant to move
- muscle tremors
- sweating
- depression
- high heart rate
- dark urine
- collapse
atypical myopathy treatment?
IVFT to flush toxins
pain relief
Anderson sling to keep upright
don’t leave alone
dystocia?
prolonged pr distressed labour
- over 20 mins
emergency as foal is stuck
- not likely to survive
require repositioning by vet
- hanging upside down and using gravity
- avoid full c-section
- but don’t have long for foal and mare to survive
be ready for surgery
newborn foal not taking colostrum
treatment?
necessary passive immunity not being received
- absorbed through gut mucosa
- most absorbant 6-12 hours
- if no IgG then susceptible to disease and sepsis
treatment
- encourage to stand and suckle
- may need plasma transfusion
- don’t leave side
- turn regularly
- monitor fluid
- nasogastric feed
- have mare see and touch foal but separate - milk her
diagnosis
- take blood sample to check for IgG levels
recumbency reasons?
old/arthritic malnourished colic laminitis disease injured winded
recumbency care?
not designed to lie down for a long time
- weight on muscles cause fibres to break down
- cause myopathy
turn every 2-4 hours but not viable
can use Anderson sling
- but need to take some weight themselves
- legs dangling causes damage to organs
not weight bearing = euthanise
competition emergencies?
musculoskeletal distress wounds cardiovascular collapse heat exhaustion neurological trauma
