Final: Intestinal diseases Flashcards
Which of the small instestinal diseases have a history of recurrent episodes of colic? (sort as strangulating and non-strangulating)
Strangulating:
Strangulating lipoma
Diaphragmatic hernia
Non-Strangulating:
Muscular hypertrophy of the SI
Adhesions in the SI (peritonitis)
How does a horse get Potomac Horse Fever? What disease is it mostly indistinguishable from?
Accendental infestion of trematode infected w/Neoricketsia risticii or of second intermediate host (aquatic insect)
Looks like salmonella
In addition to finding erosions in the GIT (including the mouth, and especially the colon) where can you find lesions due to Blister Beetle/Cantharidin toxicity?
Urinary tract
What are your 3 main differentials when you feel fewer than expected bowel loops on rectal palpation?
Diaphragmatic hernia
Epiploic foramen entrapment
Gastrosplenic entrapment
What are the 2 main risk factors for strangulating lipomas?
Older horses
Overweight horses (also if history of overconditioning since lipoma may have formed before the weight was lost)
What presentation of salmonellosis is classic in outbreaks in referral settings?
a. Fever with leukopenia
b. Colic with diarrhea
c. Colic without diarrhea
d. DPJ
e. Septicemia
a. Fever with leukopenia (due to neutropenia)
How is the treatment plan for a cecal impaction different from a LC impaction?
Administer cathartic: DSS or magnesium sulphate instead of mineral oil (which does nothing)
Also most likely surgical
An 11 year old Paint mare presents for severe colic with severe CV compromise.
NG intubation= 2L reflux, pH 6.8
Significant external abdominal distension.
Rectal: Large tihgtly distended, balloon-like structures with multiple bands, filling palpation field.
Abdominocentesis: Serosanguinous TP= 3.6 g/dl, WBC= 24,000.
Classify the colic.
Strangulating large colon disease
For points clicker question
What are the risk factors for a primary LC impaction?
Dental abnormalities (chewing improperly) *always look at the teeth*
Seasonality: Winter (when weather shifts to cold)
Inactivity (esp in horses that are usually active)
Water restriction (actual water and water in feed (e.g. old hay)
Horses prefer cold water, but drink less of it- always bring them lukewarm water or prevent water source from freezing. Can also salt their feed.
What are the 4 main types of non-strangulating displacement of the LC?
- Left Dorsal (Nephrospenic/Retrospenic ligament entrapment)
- Right Dorsal
- Retroflexion of pelvic flexure
- Non-strangulatng volvulus (<270deg) of LC
What acid-base abnormality do you expect with a LC volvulus? What treatment is COUNTER-indicated?
Profound acidosis: Metabolic and Respiratory
- MA- shock, endotoxemia, GIT compromise*
- RA- hypoventilation (extreme colonic distension)*
Do not treat with bicarb - because it will worsen the respiratory acidosis (more CO2 production)
What is the most common bacterial cause of anterior enteritits/ DPJ? What are some other causes?
Clostridium difficile
Others: C. perfringens, Salmonella, Pancreatitis
Which of the following is a feature of enteroliths that is not a feature of an impaction?
Pain
Inappetence
Recurrence
Palpable obstruction
Recurrence
What are the 3 pathophysiologic categories that you would include as differentials for a colic that looks like strangulating small intestinal disease?
True strangulating obstruction
Inflammatory
Thromboembolic
What is the best way to diagnose PHF?
PCR of feces or whole blood (looking for N. risticii DNA)
Are recurrent episodes of colic typical for a horse with LDD?
Yes
What do you administer for a sand impaction? Should it be given preventatively?
Psyllium (Metamucil)
Binds sand to help removal
No benefit to giving preventativly
Which of these exam findings is more consistent with a non-strangulating than a strangulating SI disease?
Severe CV compromise
Mild CV comromise
Variable reflux
Severely distended loops
Less tightly distended loops
Mild CV comromise
Variable reflux
Less tightly distended loops
What type of hay is a risk factor for enterolith formation? Which breed is predisposed? Living or having lived in what region is also a risk factor?
Alfalfa
Arabians
California
What are the infectious causes of colitis?
Salmonellosis
Potomac Horse Fever
Clostridial (enterocolitis)
Cyathostomaiasis
What are the most important factors predicting illness with Salmonella exposure?
Infective dose of bacteria
Inherent virulence of the bacteria
Inherent susceptibility of the host
Which 2-3 strangulating SI diseases do not cause serosanguinous abdominal effusion?
Epiploic foramen entrapment (dead gut ‘hiding’ in omental space)
Intussisception (dead gut ‘hiding’ inside live gut)
Diaphragmatic hernia (dead gut ‘hiding’ in thorax)
What are the options to diagnose salmonellosis in a horse? If it is diagnosed, what test do you run to find out whether the horse can be reintroduced to general population?
Fecal culutre
Rectal biopsy culture
PCR of feces (same test as for biosecurity) - caution w/false positives
Ready for GP: 3-5 negative cultures in a row
What conditions are secondary large colon impactions associated with?
Sand enteropathy
Enterolithiasis
Colonic displacements
What is an important risk factor for a large colon torsion?
Pregnancy- broodmare 1 month pre to 1 month post-partum
Which type of colitis is stress-induced?
Salmonellosis
Often nosocomial because asymptomatic carriers shed the organism when stressed