Equine GI

Question 1

what is colic?

Answer 1

abdominal pain

Question 2

what are the clinical signs of colic?

Answer 2

flank watching
lying down
pawing the ground
rolling
repeated getting up/down
violent thrashing

Question 3

what is the possible pathophysiology of colic?

Answer 3

anything preventing progression of intestinal content
simple obstruction
strangulating obstruction
intravascular occlusion

Question 4

what causes shocking severe colic cases?

Answer 4

loss of vascular supply leads to absorption of endotoxins causing SIRS (systemic inflammatory response system)

Question 5

what are the types of colic?

Answer 5

spasmodic
impactions
gas distention
instruction
non-strangulating infarction
inflammation
idiopathic

Question 6

what initial advise should be given to owners with a colicing horse?

Answer 6

put in bedded walled stables
remove anything that can cause injury
allow them to roll
short periods of walking ok

Question 7

what should be done first in violently painful colic cases?

Answer 7

assess heart rate (first)
administer IV xyalzine
history and clinical exam

Question 8

what should be found in a history for colicing horses?

Answer 8

signalment and pregnancy status
stereotypic behaviour
management - feeding, bedding, turnout
parasite control
dental care
medications and colic history

Question 9

what is looked for on initial evaluation of colicing horses?

Answer 9

disturbances to bed
skin abrasions
abdominal distention

Question 10

what is the heart rate of a horse?

Answer 10

28-44bpm

Question 11

how should the MM of horses appear?

Answer 11

pink
CRT <2s
dark ring around gum margin

Question 12

what is the respiratory rate of a horse?

Answer 12

12-15 bpm

Question 13

what is the normal temperature of a horse?

Answer 13

37.5-38.5

Question 14

what is the normal sounds of the intestine called?

Answer 14

intestinal borborygmi

Question 15

what tests can be careered out after auscultation of the abdomen?

Answer 15

rectal exam
abdominocentesis
nasogastric intubation
haematology
abdominal ultrasound

Question 16

what are the most common abnormalities on rectal examination?

Answer 16

distended SI
impacted pelvic flexure
left dorsal displacement
right dorsal displacement 
large colon torsion
caecal impaction
small colon impaction

Question 17

where is abdominocentesis taken from?

Answer 17

ventral midline

Question 18

what colour should peritoneal fluid be?

Answer 18

straw colour (clear yellow)

Question 19

what is assessed visual regarding peritoneal fluid?

Answer 19

quantity
colour (straw colour)
clarity (clear)
ingesta present (rupture)

Question 20

what is assessed in the lab regarding peritoneal fluid?

Answer 20

total protein
white blood cell count
lactate

Question 21

what is the total protein of peritoneal fluid?

Answer 21

<20g/L

Question 22

what is the lactate of peritoneal fluid?

Answer 22

<2mmol/L

Question 23

why do nasogastric tubes need to be passed?

Answer 23

if there is an obstruction the stomach secretions will build up until the stomach ruptures

Question 24

how much fluid would cause a concern if obtained from a nasogastric tube?

Answer 24

> 2L

Question 25

what is normal PCV of a horse?

Answer 25

35-45%

Question 26

what is the normal systemic total protein of a horse?

Answer 26

60-70g/L

Question 27

what is the most common cause of neonatal colic?

Answer 27

meconium compaction | bladder rupture and congenital issue can also be seen

Question 28

what is the most common cause of colic in donkeys?

Answer 28

impaction

Question 29

when is grass sickness most commonly seen?

Answer 29

April/may

Question 30

what is equine dysautonomia?

Answer 30

grass sickness

Question 31

how much water is absorbed by the large colon each day?

Answer 31

>100L

Question 32

how much diarrhoea is produced by a horse per day?

Answer 32

90-100L

Question 33

what possible mechanisms can lead to diarrhoea?

Answer 33

``` malabsorption increased secretion osmotic overload abnormal motility extravasation of fluid (oedema) ```

Question 34

what does acute diarrhoea in horses indicate?

Answer 34

colitis (or typhlocolitis)

Question 35

which part of the intestine is effected to cause diarrhoea in adult horses?

Answer 35

LI always (SI alone doesn't cause diarrhoea)

Question 36

which part of the intestine is effected to cause diarrhoea in foals?

Answer 36

LI and SI (can occur with just SI)

Question 37

can colonic pathology occur without diarrhoea?

Answer 37

yes

Question 38

what are some things that can cause chronic diarrhoea?

Answer 38

``` dietary dental disease parasites antimicrobials NSAIDs neoplasm sand ingestion ```

Question 39

what are the most common causes of acute diarrhoea?

Answer 39

idiopathic salmonella clostridia drug induced

Question 40

what are the predisposing factors for acute diarrhoea?

Answer 40

``` antibiotics transport competition hospitalisation surgery stress ```

Question 41

what are the most important presenting signs of acute diarrhoea?

Answer 41

depression | fever

Question 42

what is the pathophysiology of acute diarrhoea?

Answer 42

fluid loss mucosal inflammation, ischeamia and reperfusion injury breakdown of GI mucosal barrier