Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Equine Colic > General > Flashcards

General Flashcards

1
Q

What predisposes a horse to epiploic foramen entrapment?

A

Wind sucking

Crib biting

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

What predisposes a horse to an impaction colic?

A 
Dental disease
Reduced faecal output
Over fed hay 
Anoplocephala perfoliata - ileocaecal hypertrophy 
Sand 
Infiltrative bowel disease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What commonly causes a spasmodic colic?

A

Diarrhoea

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

What is the normal heart rate of a horse?

A

28-44

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

What is the normal respiratory rate for a horse?

A

12-15

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

What is the normal temperature for a horse?

A

37.5-38.4

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

Butylscopolamine

A

Buscopan

  • causes relaxation of the GI tract, facilitating rectal examination
  • can relieve spasmodic colic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How many taenial bands are there in the sections of the large intestine?

A

Caecum = 4
Ventral colon = 4
Right dorsal colon = 3
Left dorsal colon = 1

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

Rectal findings in left dorsal displacement / neprhosplenic entrapment.

A

Pelvic flexure / left colon trapped in the neprhosplenic space (dorsal left)
Spleen displaced towards midline
Trapped colon becomes distended with gas

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

How can you treat a left dorsal displacement / nephrosplenic entrapment?

A

Medical management
IVFT
Flunixin
Phenylephrine to cause splenic contraction

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

Rectal exam findings right dorsal displacement of the large colon.

A

Left dorsal and ventral colon displaced to lie between the caecum and right body wall
Caecum shifted towards midline
Pelvic flexure displaced cranially
+/- volvulus

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

How should you treat right dorsal displacement of the colon?

A

Surgical management

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

How does a pelvic flexure impaction feel on rectal examination?

A

Firm, doughy mass in the pelvic flexure

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

How can you treat pelvic flexure impactions?

A

Medical
Nasogastric tubing
Oral fluids - efferdryl

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

What will you find on rectal exam in a large colon torsion?

A

Colon distended and tympanic
Me sentry palpably oedematous
Colonic bands felt in a transverse direction

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

How can you treat a large colon torsion?

A

Mild-non strangulating lesions - medical

Strangulating lesions - surgical

  • plasma volume replacement
  • antibiotics - procaine penicillin
  • flunixin
  • polymyxin B
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What will you feel on rectal examination in a horse with caecal impaction?

A

Caecum feels firm - felt in the right paralumbar area with taught caecal bands (4 taenia)

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

How should you treat a caecal impaction?

A

Mild - IVFT, oral fluids, efferdryl and flunixin

Severe - surgical
- caecum decompressed and ingesta removed

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

What size needle should you use for abdominocentesis?

A

18g 1.5 inches

Pink needle

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

What does mildly red abdominal fluid suggest?

A

Early strangulating lesion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does serosanguinous abdominal fluid suggest?

A

Volvulus

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

What amount of nett reflux is significant?

A

2L +

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

Where are the 3 main regions to scan on the horse with colic?

A

Inguinal region
Ventral midline
Left paralumbar fossa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are common causes of foal colic?

A

Meconium impaction
Ruptured bladder
Congenital abnormalities - atresia ani / coli / lymphangectasia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What type of colic is most common in donkeys?
Impaction - secondary to dental disease
26
What are the 3 most common causes of weight loss in the horse?
Dental disease Parasitism Inadequate diet
27
Differentials for protein losing enteropathy in the horse?
``` Cyathostomins Strongyles Idiopathic Infiltrative bowel disease Neoplasia Lawsonia intracellularis - 3-11mo ```
28
What are the three types of Infiltrative bowel disease?
Granulomatous enteritis Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis Focal eosinophillic enteritis CAUSES A PLE
29
How cla you treat Infiltrative bowel disease?
Prednisolone | Moxidectin / praziquantel - to get rid of parasites
30
What disease causes cutaneous and GI signs in horses?
Multisystemic eosinophillic epitheliotrophic disease Tx: dexamethasone
31
What forms of lymphoma are there in the horse?
``` Alimentary Generalised Solitary Cranial mediastinal Cutaneous ```
32
What forms of Infiltrative bowel disease may not be responsive to steroids?
Eosinophillic enteritis Granulomatous enteritis Lymphoplasmacytic enteritis Alimentary lymphoma
33
What findings on bloods would make you suspect chronic bacterial infections?
Neutrophillia + hyperfibrinogenaemia + anaemia
34
What changes on blood will make you suspicious of a parasitic infection in horses?
Neutrophillia + hypoalbuminaemia + hyperglobulinaemia | NOT EOSINOPHILLIA
35
What pathologies do the common equine GI parasites cause?
Large strongyles - verminous arteritis and thromboembolic colic Cyathostomins - colitis Parascaris equorum - mechanical blockage Anoplocephala perfoliata - colic
36
Where do gastric ulcers commonly occur in horses?
Margo Plicatus
37
What risk factors are there for EGGUS?
Stress and NSAIDs
38
What risk factors are there for ESGUS?
Acid injury
39
What general risk factors are there for gastric ulcers?
``` High grain diets Intermittent feeding Exercise - leads to gastric production and increase abdominal pressure Transport Stabling Confinement ```
40
What is licensed to treat gastric ulcers in horses?
Omeprazole
41
What are the differentials for chronic diarrhoea in the adult horse?
``` Dietary Dental disease Parasites - S.vulgaris more chronic, Cyathostomins acute Sand Antimicrobial associated diarrhoea NSAIDs - right dorsal colitis Gut oedema in heart failure Renal failure Liver disease Chronic IBD Alimentary lymphoma Chronic salmonellosis ```
42
How should you treat chronic diarrhoea?
``` Treat underlying disease Gradually change diet Fenbendazole / ivermectin 1st, then moxidectin 1 week later Access to normal manure Anti-diarrhoea medications ```
43
What are the most important causes of colitis in adult horses?
``` Idiopathic Salmonella Clostridia NSAIDs - right dorsal colitis Antibiotics Cyathostomins ```
44
What organs can be damaged as a result of endotoxaemia?
Heart - reduced contractility GIT - poor perfusion reduces the mucosal barrier Laminitis Kidneys
45
Salmomellosis
Salmonella typhimurium Asymptomatic carriers are the source - shed at times of stress CS: colitis, neutropaenia, hyponatraemia, dehydration +/- septicaemia Dx: 5 negative faecal samples to rule out - faecal culture
46
Antibiotic Induced Diarrhoea
Penicillin Ceftiofur Erythromycin - given to the foal, causes mare to get D+ CS: mild transient diarrhoea or fulminant enterocolitis (severe) Tx: withdraw ab + give metronidazole Dx: faecal gram staining for clostridium, C.difficile toxin assay
47
What complications should you make an owner aware of following a bought of acute colitis?
Laminitis Thrombophlebitis Haemodynamic renal failure Chronic diarrhoea
48
4-7% dehydrated
Decreased skin turgour PCV 40-50% CRT 2-3s
49
7-9% dehydrated
Sunken eyes Depressed Sticky mm PCV 50-60%
50
9% dehydrated
Skin tent longer than 5 seconds Mm dry PCV 65% +
51
What fluid should you give a mildly dehydrated horse with colitis?
Isotonic fluids | Or 10-20L oral fluid
52
What fluid should you consider giving a very sick horse with colitis?
Hypertonic saline 7.2% | 2-4ml/kg bolus
53
How can you treat a case of colitis?
Isotonic hartmanns Spiked with 20 mEq/L K+ Calcium if there is prolonged anorexia Oral electrolyte solutions Oral mucosal protectants - bismuth subsalicylate - activated charcoal - smectite
54
How should you treat SIRS?
Flunixin | Polymyxin B
55
What type of bilirubin always predominates in horses?
Unconjugated
56
What liver enzymes are used in horses?
AST and SDH - hepatocellular damage GGT - biliary tree (but also hepatocellular)
57
What is the best prognostic indicator in liver disease?
Liver biopsy score | - a biopsy score of greater than 6 has a poor prognosis
58
Ragwort toxicity
Senecio Jacobea Clinical signs of liver failure may not occur until a year after CS: weight loss, inappetance, mildly depressed, progressing to Laryngeal paralysis - inspiratory dysponea Hepatic encephalopathy Gastric impaction colic Photosensitisation Haemorrhages Icterus Dx: increased GGT, small liver on US, megalocytosis on biopsy Tx: unrewarding - esp if bilirubin over 50 Fluids and electrolytes Moderate to low protein diet Neomycin / metronidazole
59
Cholangiohepatitis and cholelithiasis
Ascending bile duct infection from the GI tract - classic - UNconjugated bilirubin (usually conjugated in the horse - bacteria Unconjugate the bilirubin Remember - horses don't have a GB so stones always in bile duct CS: jaundice, fever, colic Dx: marked increase in GGT, Pyrexia, bacteria in bile duct aspirate Tx: long term antibiotics
60
Immune mediated chronic active hepatitis
Progressive inflammatory disease Corticosteroids + Azathioprine
61
What are the risk factors for hyper lipaemia?
``` Obese Females Insulin insensitivity Underlying disease - parasites creating NEB Transport Stress lactation Starvation ``` Basically a fat female that enters a NEB
62
How does hyper lipaemia present and how can you treat it?
CS: anorexia, lethargy, weakness, may progress to CNS disease Dx: cloudy serum Hyperlipidaemia - triglycerides 1.5-5 - REVERSIBLE Hyperlipidaemia - triglycerides over 5 Look for underlying disease - liver / renal disease
63
How can you treat hyperlipaemia?
Treat underlying disease eg: parasites Get the horse into a positive energy balance Correct dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and acidosis Insulin therapy Adv risk of laminitis
64
Indications for medical management of colic
``` Mild to moderate pain without analgesia Good response to analgesia HR <50bpm Gut motility continuing or improving No nett reflux Resolving / no abdominal distension Normal peritoneal fluid Normal PCV, TP and systemic lactate ```
65
How do you medically manage a colic?
``` Analgesia NGT Tubing - reflux Oral fluids eg: efferdryl IVFT Phenylephrine - reduces spleen size in NSE Pysllium - bulk forming laxative ```
66
Phenylbutazone
Moderate potency - good first line for mild to moderate pain Doesn't mask colic signs 12h duration
67
Flunixin
Potent analgesia - may mask pain - only use post operatively May mask an increase in heart rate with SIRs
68
What NSAID is in buscopan compositum?
Metimazole
69
Xylazine
10-30 mins Good analgesia Useful to facilitate rectal examination
70
Romifidine
2-4h analgesia in colic cases Usually combined with butorphanol Good for moderate to severely painful colic so that need to be transported for surgery
71
Detomidine
Potent analgesia 2-4h analgesia in colic cases Usually combined with butorphanol Good for moderate to severely painful colic so that need to be transported for surgery
72
Butorphanol
Good for analgesia in colicky foals where NSAIDs are CI
73
Morphine
Potent analgesia | For very painful colics post surgery
74
Butylscopolamine / hyoscine
Smooth muscle relaxant Care compositum contains NSAID Facilitate rectal exam - reduced risk of tears Spasmodic colic / mild colic pain
75
Oral fluid therapy for a medical colic case
4-6L of oral fluids and electrolytes via NGT every 4 hours
76
Which colics can be medically managed?
Spasmodic colic Pelvic flexure impaction Nephrosplenic entrapment Sand colic
77
Spasmodic colic
Mild to moderate pain Increased gut sounds Normal clinical parameters Response to butylscopolamine and phenylbutazone
78
Nephrosplenic entrapment
Ventral colon trapped in Nephrosplenic space Medical if mild / moderate pain, not distended large colon and normal CVS parameters Surgical if servers pain, deteriorated CVS parameters, no response to treatment Us - failure to detect kidney and spleen - obscured by colon
79
How can you medically managed Nephrosplenic entrapment?
Phenylbutazone | Phenylephrine infusion - over 15 minutes, then lunge for 10 mins
80
Sand colic
Recurrent mild colic - impaction or colon displacements also possible Dx: Sand in faeces, seashore sound on auscultation, sand on abdominocentesis Tx: remove source, lots of forage, psyllium - laxative
81
Meconium impaction in foals
Common - failure to pass black tarry meconium after birth Tx: soapy water / phosphate enema Sedate mare and foal and elevate hindlimb for 30min
82
When is euthanasia indicated in colic?
Uncontrollable pain despite potent analgesia Severe CVS compromise HR>90 Purple mm PCV >60% GI rupture - sudden onset profuse sweating and a reduction in pain Brown red ingesta in abdominocentesis sample
83
What are some indications for surgery?
Severe, unrelenting pain Recurrence of pain despite moderate / potent analgesia HR >60 Nett reflux over 2L Reduced intestinal motility Abdominal distension Orange peritoneal fluid, increased total protein and lactate
84
What are surgical colics?
Pedunculated lipoma Epiploic foramen entrapment - wind suckers / crib biters predisposed Large colon displacements - severe pain, no response to medical Large colon volvulus Large colon torsion
85
What are the 3 worst colics for rapid loss of blood supply?
1. Pedunculated lipoma 2. Epiploic foramen entrapment 3. Large colon volvulus
86
What anastomoses are associated with a poorer prognosis?
Jejuno-caecostom | Large colon resection
87
What should the rest period after colic surgery be?
8 weeks box rest and and 2-3x daily in hand walking 8 weeks small paddock turn out 8 weeks normal paddock and gradual return to exercise
88
How should you manage non-resolving oesophageal obstruction?
Sedate Butylscopolamine Oxytocin Pass a NGT to assess the level of obstruction Pump water in using a stirrup pump and lavage until cleared +/- antimicrobial if aspiration pneumonia suspected Provide water but no feed for 24-48h If not cleared by lavage endoscopic retrieval is indicated
89
When should you expect oesophageal perforation?
Swelling and crepitus in the left cervical region Investigate using endoscope Guarded prognosis
90
How should you initially manage carbohydrate overload?
Lavage gastric contents within warm water within 1-2h Activated charcoal Flunixin Cryotherapy of the feet
91
How should you manage a rectal tear?
``` Grade 3 or above - refer Pack the rectum Broad spectrum antibiotics - penicillin and gentamycin Flunixin meglumine Check tetanus status Epidural ```

Equine Colic (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions