Equine GI Flashcards
What is colic
Term for abdominal pain (not a disease!)
Types of colic
Impaction, spasmodic, displacement
What is impaction colic
Obstruction or plug in intestinal tract, particularly in areas w idiosyncrasies in anatomy (pelvic flexure of large colon, illeum of small intestine)
Which is more serious; pelvic flexure or ileal impaction
Ileal impaction/ small intestine impaction
Bc closer to stomach, back flow of ingesta
How impaction is caused
Coarse/ poor quality forage, limited water intake, poor teeth care, wood chewing
Signs of impaction colic
Abdominal pain (stretching, pawing, looking back at flank, depression, anorexia) increased HR / RR, little fecal output Ileal=more severe signs
How to treat pelvic flexure impaction
Analgesics, laxatives like mineral oil
How to treat ileal impaction
Analgesics, fluids, nasogastric turn to relieve stomach pressure, surgery
What is spasmodic colic
Colic caused by alteration in GI motility, ineffective peristalsis causing organs to become distended w gas or fluid
Possible causes of spasmodic colic
Internal parasites (migration thro intestines or damage the cranial mesenteric artery), poor feeding management (sudden changes, mold, frozen feed, v cold water)
Signs off spasmodic colic
Intermitted pain (hence the term spasmodic) intense at times, not at others; increased HR /RR, hypermotile sounds
How to treat spasmodic colic
Pain relief, change feeding management
How internal parasites cause spasmodic colic via the cranial mesenteric artery
Damage to this artery via migrating thro could cut off blood supply to parts of Bowel (branches off into other arteries)
What is displacement colic
Section of bowl fills w gas and moves, causes obstruction of normal ingesta flow and circulation (May lead to Ischemia/ lack of blood supply, and necrosis of organs)
Causes of displacement colic
SI or LI fill w gas, displaced
Bowel/ colon displaced / torsion
Severe parasite load, part of bowel may die
Severe obstruction in bowel
Signs of displacement colic
Pain, maniacal behavior, unaware, bloat, rapid HR, prolonged CRT, mm injected or cyanotic, nasogastric reflux
Prognosis of horse w displacement colic
Usually surgery
What is Potomac horse fever (PHF)
Acute diarrheal infectious disease
What causes Potomac horse fever
Rickettsia organism= Neorickettsia risticii
Vectors for Potomac horse fever
Freshwater snails and trematodes, aquatic insects; horses usually consume immature microscopic larvae
When are incidences of PHF highest
Late summer and fall
How to treat PHF
Antibiotics and fluids (for dehydration)
How PHF prevented
Vaccine (booster in spring or early summer)
Minimize standing water, don’t allow to drink from natural bodies, clean water vats and buckets
