Equine GI Flashcards

1
Q

What is a key indicator of the potential need for surgical intervention?

A

Recurrence of pain despite moderate/potent analgesia, or non-response to analgesia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the surgical treatment for large colon obstruction?

A

Pelvic flexure enterotomy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is post-op ileus?

A

Impairment of GI motility after surgery

usually stomach + colon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

When should you not give Flunixin as analgesia for colic?

A

If colic of unknown cause with mild/moderate pain
Potent analgesic so masks colic pain and effects of SIRS
Makes decision making more difficult (i.e. whether to refer for surgery or not)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What can oral fluid therapy assist with resolving?

A

Large colon impactions

Hydrates ingesta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is meconium retention in foals?
What is the treatment?
What is an important differential diagnosis?

A

Failure to pass normal black faeces
Tx: Enema
DDx: Ruptured bladder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the main treatment for gastric ulcers?

Which type is more responsive to treatment?

A

Omeprazole

ESGUS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the treatment of spasmodic colic?

A

Butylscopolamine (Buscopan)

+/- metimazole/phenylbutazone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What type of colic is the most frequently diagnosed?

A

Spasmodic colic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What type of colic is seen more commonly with increased stabling, straw bedding and box rest?

A

Pelvic flexure impaction

Horses may eat the straw bedding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What would you find in a rectal exam of a horse with a pelvic flexure (large colon) impaction?
In what horses do these RARELY occur?

A

Doughy, firm structure
Caudal-left abdomen
Horses turned out to grass all the time (more likely to be EGS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the treatment for Nephrosplenic entrapment?

A

Phenylnephrine (reduces splenic size)

Lunge then reasess rectally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do you diagnose Nephrosplenic entrapment?

What type of horses are predisposed?

A

Rectal (left dorsal displacement)
Ultrasound: can’t see left kidney
Warmbloods/large horses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the prognosis and treatment of gastrointestinal rupture?
What is it often due to?

A

Hopeless prognosis
Euthanasia
Stomach rupture, due to gastric reflux

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the treatment for “choke” oesophageal obstruction?

A

Remove feed, usually resolves spontaneously

If not, sedate and lavage oesophagus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where would you palpate for choke or oesophageal tears?

A

Left cervical region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 3 groups of causes of dysphagia?

A

Pain
Neurogenic
Obstructive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How can haemoabdomen occur following parturition?

A

Rupture of the middle uterine artery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is an incision hernia?

A

A complication of colic surgery
Hernia at incision site
Increased risk of hernia if incision site infection occurs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the treatment for carbohydrate overload?

A
Lavage gastric contents until runs clear
Cryotherapy of the feet
Flunixin
Referral if SIRS
Activated charcoal?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does carbohydrate overload cause?

A

Intestinal bacteria ferment carbohydrates producing endotoxins
SIRS, laminitis, diarrhoea and death!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the epidemiology of pedunculated lipoma strangulation?

A

Ponies (more than horses)
Geldings
Over 8 years
Small intestine most common

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What type of colic are post-foaling mares predisposed to?

A

Large colon volvulus

24
Q

What type of colic is associated with changes in feed?

A

Large colon volvulus

25
Q

Which type of colic is associated with crib biting/windsucking and is seasonal?
What is the post-operative survival like compared to other colic types?

A

Epiploic Foramen Entrapment (EFE)

Highest rate of post-operative mortality

26
Q

What are the 3 risk factors for mortality post colic surgery?

A
  1. Resection length (of small intestine)
  2. Duration of surgery
  3. PCV
    If increased, increased risk of mortality
    (+ post operative ileus?)
27
Q

What are 3 post operative complications of colic surgery?

A
  1. Post-operative Ileus
  2. Surgical site infection
  3. Jugular thrombosis (thrombophlebitis)
28
Q

In which months is Equine Grass Sickness most common?

A

April/May

29
Q

What are the 3 most common reasons for weight loss?

A
  1. Dental disease
  2. Parasitism
  3. Inadequate diet
30
Q

How much of their bodyweight do horses need to eat per day in dry matter?

A

2.5% BW per day

31
Q

What is quidding?

A

Horse loses or spits semi-chewed food out of its mouth

Indicates mouth pain

32
Q

What is the most likely cause of Hypoalbuminaemia and Hypoglobulinaemia?

A

GI loss

33
Q

What serum protein change does Cyathostomiasis cause?

A

Hyperglobinaemia

indicates chronic inflammatory disease

34
Q

What structures can you see on intestinal ultrasound
On the left?
On the rifght

A

Left:
Stomach
Spleen
Small intestine

Right:
Caecum
Liver

35
Q

What 3 paraneoplastic syndromes would you expect with lymphoma?

A
  1. Haemolytic anaemia
  2. Hypercalcaemia
  3. Cachexia
36
Q

What are two bacteria that commonly cause chronic infection?

A

Rhodococcus equi

Streptococcus equi var equi

37
Q

What would you see on an inflammatory haemogram?

A

Neutrophilia
Anaemia
Hyperfibrinogenaemia

38
Q

What are 3 haematological changes associated with parisitism?

A

Neutrophilia
Hypoalbuminaemia
Hyperglobulinaemia

39
Q

In what breed of horses and what discipline is EGUS most common in?

A

Thoroughbred racehorses

40
Q

What are the two types of EGUS and what is the cause for each type?
How is each type graded?

A
Glandular (EGGUS)
Unclear, stress, NSAIDs
Described, not graded
Squamous (ESGUS)
Acid injury
Graded 1-4 depending on number and depth
41
Q

What are 4 predisposing factors to EGUS?

A
  1. Exercise (gastrin production and acid “splashing” due to increased intra-abdominal pressure)
  2. Low fibre diets
    (Reduced saliva, which buffers acid)
  3. High concentrate diets
    (VFAs and increased gastrin production)
  4. Stress (transport, confinement, stabling)
42
Q

What bowel disease can cause cranky/bad behaviour and poor performance in horses?

A

EGUS

43
Q

What is faecal occult blood, and why is it not reliable to diagnose EGUS?

A

Blood from gastric ulcer found in faeces

Already digested in large bowel

44
Q

What is the treatment for EGUS?

Which type of EGUS is more responsive?

A

Omeprazole (proton pump inhibitor) and reduce risk factors

ESGUS (sqamous) more responsive and lower dose needed

45
Q

Why should you not use alpha 2 agonists in large colon/pelvic flexure impaction?

A

Reduces gut motility

Important in order to push digest out

46
Q

What may occur upon removal of a nasogastric tube?
What should you tell the owner?
What should you do?

A

Epistaxis
Should warn owner beforehand
Don’t panic!
Put horse in stable over bucket, leave quietly for 5-10 minutes
Measure amount of blood lost, up to 1 litre is fine, 4-5 litres start to worry

47
Q

What should you never give with IV trimethoprim sulphonamides?
What does it cause?

A

IV alpha 2 agonists

Fatal arrhythmias

48
Q

What is a risk of rectal exams?

What is the treatment and prognosis?

A
Rectal tear
Endoscopy to confirm
Refer for treatment 
Or euthanasia 
Poor prognosis
49
Q

What types of colic can dental disorders be associated with?

A

LCV, SCOD, Pelvic flexure impaction, recurrent colic

50
Q

What are some clinical signs of EGS?
How would you diagnose?
What is the prognosis and treatment?

A

SI DISTENSION, PTOSIS
Tachycardia, reflux, muscle tremors/fasciculations, sweating, dysphagia, abnormal stance
Ileal biopsy (via exploratory laparotomy)
Poor prognosis if positive and evidence of reflux
Euthanasia

51
Q

What is the main predisposing factor for EGS?

A

Previous history of grass sickness (avoid using pasture if previously had EGS)

52
Q

What is the cause of granulating, non-healing wounds?

A

Constant movement
Delays healing (2nd intention) as epithelial cells can’t close over defect
Development of exuberant granulation tissue “Proud flesh”

53
Q

What is the treatment of granulating, non-healing wounds?

A

Debridement and immobilisation of limb
(cast, Robert Jones splint)
Consider refferal

54
Q

What type of colic can be related to high FWECs?

A

Spasmodic colic

Often more horses than normally expected would present with colic on the same yard

55
Q

What is a normal PCV in a horse? What does below 30% indicate

A

32-48%

Indicates anaemia

56
Q

What would you see on gastroscopy of EGUS?

A
Ulceration (pink)
Hyperkeratotic mucosa (yellow)