Exam of Horse Resp Tract Flashcards
How do you approach a patient?
- SIGNALMENT
- HX
- PE (problem list)
- ddx
- diagnostic plan
- diagnosis (clinical vs etiological)
- treatment plan
- re-assess as needed
What do we want to know about signalment?
age, breed, intended use
What is important history-wise?
acute vs chronic, recurrent, # of animals affected, recent additions of animals, travel, housing, vaccination, management changes (diet, environment, exercise), prior medical conditions, performance hx (poor performance, exercise intolerance), clinical signs at rest or associated w/ exercise
What counts as poor performance?
- change in attitude
- change in performance (sudden or gradual)
What are the 3 major body systems we look at with poor performance?
RESPIRATORY, Cardiovascular, musculoskeletal
What is important in a respiratory PE?
- distance exam: posture, breathing rate & pattern, nostril flare, nasal discharge
- symmetrical airflow from nostrils (test w/ hands)
- sinus percussion
- submandibular LNs
- spontaneous or inducible cough (pinch trachea, normal animals shouldn’t cough)
- tracheal & lung auscultation
- rectal temperature
What are important characteristics of nasal discharge to note on a PE?
- unilateral (more likely to be upper resp or sinus) vs bilateral (lower resp or guttural pouch of horse)
- colour
- consistency
- blood
How do you percuss the sinuses?
- compare both sides to see if they are the same
- if they sound dull (indicates fluid in sinus)
Normal resp rate of horse?
8-16 bpm
What does it mean when the increased respiratory effort is inspiratory?
external factor to airways or upper airways are affected
What does it mean when the increased respiratory effort is expiratory?
internal problem w/ airway
What is tachypnea?
increased respiratory rate
What is hyperpnea?
increased respiratory rate & depth of respiration
What is dyspnea?
shortness of breath (subjective)
What is respiratory distress?
inappropriate degree & effort to breathing (dyspnea)
What are manifestations of dyspnea?
- tachypnea
- extended head & neck position
- mouth breathing (not horses)
- nostril flaring (not cattle)
- increased effort
- abdominal effort
- abducted elbows
- stridor
- anxious expression
- cyanosis w/ severe distress
- anorexia
What are the causes of dyspnea?
physiologic after strenuous exercise, pathologic at rest or following minimal exercise
What are the causes of tachypnea?
physiologic (exercise, heat) or pathologic at rest
- need for additional O2
- heat stroke
- CNS disease
- weakness of respiratory muscle / motor nerves
What causes a need for additional O2?
- decreased O2 in enviro (high altitude, fire or toxic fumes)
- disorders interrupting O2 transfer (respiratory tract disease (ventilation / perfusion mismatch), cardiovascular disease (bypassing lungs))
- decreased O2 carrying capacity of the blood (anemia (less Hb), abnormal Hb)
How does excessive environmental heat influence tachypnea?
- dissipate heat through the respiratory system (by panting)
- labored breathing in a very hot environment
- thermoregulation (DOGS & cats)
What do we auscultate in horses?
trachea & lungs
what are normal tracheal & lung sounds?
- air movement through conducting airways
- broncho-vesicular sounds
