Equine Top 20 Diseases - Part 2

Question 1

what is the classic case presentation of a horse with infectious abortion?

Answer 1

pregnancy loss after placental development (40-45 days)

Question 2

what is the classic case presentation of a horse with infectious abortion due to equine herpesvirus-1?

Answer 2

late term abortion with minimal fetal autolysis, placenta grossly normal, can be an outbreak

Question 3

what is the classic case presentation of a horse with infectious abortion due to equine viral arteritis?

Answer 3

fetus autolyzed

Question 4

what is the classic case presentation of a horse with infectious abortion due to leptospirosis?

Answer 4

icteric, autolyzed fetus

Question 5

what is the classic case presentation of a horse with infectious abortion due to bacteria/ascending placentitis?

Answer 5

grossly edematous, brown, placenta with fibrinonecrotic exudate

Question 6

what is the classic case presentation of a horse with infectious abortion due to fungal causes?

Answer 6

thickened placenta with minimal fetal autolysis

Question 7

how is infectious abortion in a horse diagnosed?

Answer 7

necropsy of the fetus & fetal membranes with culture, histopath, & PCR

Question 8

how is infectious abortion treated in horses?

Answer 8

no treatment

Question 9

T/F: poor perineal conformation in a horse is a risk factor for ascending placentitis

Answer 9

TRUE

Question 10

what is the most common non-infectious cause of abortion in horses?

Answer 10

twins

Question 11

what diseases causing infectious abortion are contagious/zoonotic?

Answer 11

EHV/EVA/lepto are contagious & lepto is zoonotic

Question 12

how is viral infectious abortion prevented? how is leptospirosis infectious abortion prevented?

Answer 12

prevent both with vaccination

Question 13

what is another name for equine rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 13

tying up

Question 14

what is the classic case presentation of equine rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 14

hard/painful muscles, reluctance to move, weakness, recumbency, dark urine from myoglobinuria

Question 15

what are the two most common chronic types of equine rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 15

polysaccharide storage myopathy & recurrent exertional myopathy

Question 16

what horses are affected by PSSM? what is the pathology behind it?

Answer 16

wuarter horse, warm blood, & draft horses - abnormal glycogen storage

Question 17

what horses are affected by RER? what is the pathology behind it?

Answer 17

thoroughbred or standardbred - abnormal intracellular calcium metabolism

Question 18

how is equine rhabdomyolysis diagnosed?

Answer 18

increased CK, AST, LDH +/- azotemia if myoglobinuria

Question 19

what acute treatment is indicated for rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 19

nsaids, vasodilators (acepromazine), iv fluids

Question 20

what long term treatment is used for rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 20

low starch/high fat diet with daily exercise

Question 21

how is PSSM type I diagnosed?

Answer 21

genetic test

Question 22

how is RER diagnosed?

Answer 22

muscle biopsy

Question 23

what are some other types of myopathies that will make the differential list for tying up?

Answer 23

immune mediated myositis, pasture myopathy, malignant hyperthermia

Question 24

how is RER prevented?

Answer 24

minimize stress, pre-treat with dantrolene (calcium channel blocker)

Question 25

what is the agent that causes strangles?

Answer 25

strep equi subsp equi

Question 26

what is the classic case presentation of strangles?

Answer 26

young horse with fever with mucoid to mucopurulent nasal discharge, lethargy, submandibular lymphadenopathy, & difficulty swallowing/inspiratory respiratory noise

Question 27

how is strangles diagnosed?

Answer 27

PCR or culture on nasopharyngeal or guttural pouch wash or abscessed lymph node exudate

Question 28

how is strangles treated?

Answer 28

drain/lavage abscess, procaine penicillin for horses with dyspnea/severe lethargy, supportive care

Question 29

how is strangles trasmitted?

Answer 29

fomites & direct contact

Question 30

why are all suspect strangles cases treated?

Answer 30

strict biosecurity due to how contagious it is!!!

Question 31

what complications can occur with strangles that worsen prognosis?

Answer 31

purpura hemorrhagica, guttural pouch infection, & bastard strangles

Question 32

what is the classic case presentation of viral upper respiratory infections in horses?

Answer 32

typically an outbreak in younger horses which is usually more severe, fever/lethargy/anorexia, serous nasal discharge, cough, & submandibular lymphadenopathy

Question 33

what are the most common causes of viral uper respiratory infections in horses?

Answer 33

EHV-1, EHV-4, equine influenza virus, equine rhinitis virus, & equine viral arteritis

Question 34

what's the best way to diagnose a cause of a viral upper respiatory infection in horses?

Answer 34

PCR on nasal swab for viral antigens - rapid turnaround

Question 35

how are viral upper respiratory infections treated?

Answer 35

nsaids, supportive care, & antibiotics only if worried about a secondary bacterial infection

Question 36

what other diseases can be caused by EHV-1?

Answer 36

neurologic disease & abortion

Question 37

what is the classic case presentation of a horse with laminitis?

Answer 37

walking on eggshells, reluctant to move, weight shifting, prominent arterial digitalpulses, warm feet, & recumbency in severe cases

Question 38

what are the 4 main etiologies of laminitis?

Answer 38

systemic inflammatory response syndrome associated, endocrinopathic, support limb laminitis, & traumatic

Question 39

what is seen with hoof testers that indicates laminitis?

Answer 39

positive to hoof testers over the toes

Question 40

what radiographic changes indicate laminitis?

Answer 40

thickening of hoof/lamellar interface, rotation/skinking of P3, gas lines up dorsal hoof wall, & periosteal proliferation of dorsodistal P3 when chronic

Question 41

what treatment is used for horses with laminitis?

Answer 41

distal limb cryotherapy, sole support, stall rest, pain relief with NSAIDS & opioids, corrective trimming/shoeing during chronic phase, & address underlying cause

Question 42

chronic laminitis will have what on their hooves?

Answer 42

external divergent hoof rings

Question 43

what is the prognosis for laminitis?

Answer 43

guarded

Question 44

T/F: radiographic changes associated with laminitis may be absent in acute or mild cases

Answer 44

TRUE