GIT Flashcards
expected elevated pulse of a colicky foal <1month old
80-100bpm
expected elevated pulse of a colicky foal < 2month old
70bpm
expected elevated pulse of a colicky foal < 3month old
60bpm
why is PCV/TP not as reliable in foals as adults?
foals always have quite a low protein, but still okay indicator of hydration
what does lactate concentration indicate?
perfusion
is peritoneal fluid analysis routinely performed in foals?
no - dt increased complication rates vs. adults
what is US useful for when investigating a colicking foal?
GIT: intestinal motility, intestinal wall thickness, stomach size, peritoneal fluid
Umbilical structures
DDx for obstructive causes of colic in foals
- Non-strangulating:
- meconium impaction
- LI impaction
- intussusception - Strangulating
- intestinal volvulus
- herniation
DDx for congenital causes of colic in foals
- intestinal atresia
- ileocolonic aganlionosis
ddx for misc. causes of colic in goals
- gastroduodenal ulceration
- peritonitis
- uroperitonuem
- umbilica/abdominal abscess
- enterocolitis
what is normal foal USG
1.005-1.010
when should passage of meconium be completed by?
48hrs
lab data indicative of IVFT in foals
USG >1.020
Lactate >2mmol/L
analgesia options in colicky foal
- NSAIDs (if hydrated): flunixin, meloxiam, ketoprofen
- Opioids: butorphanol (can cause profound sedation)
- Alpha-2 agonists: xylazine (in older foals)
initial tx of meconium impaction
- warm soapy water
- foal standing/lateral
- lubricate soft tubing (Foley cath)
- 50-100mls for a 50kg foal - administered by gravity flow
- can rpt several times (beware rectal irritation)
MOA of retention enema using acetylcysteine
4% acetylcysteine
MOA: cleaves disulphide bonds and decreases the viscosity of meconium
- keep in place for 30-45mins
non-infectious causes of foal diarrhoea
- foal heat (assoc. w/ change in gut flora/copraphagy and starting to eat mare’s feed)
- nutritional (ie. large quantities of milk w/ premies)
- systemic dz (ie. dummy foals w/ impaired GIT perfusion)
DDx nutritional causes of foal diarrhoea
- commonly in foals not able to handle large quantities of milk ie. premature/sick foals
- milk replacers
- lactose intolerance
- perinatal asphyxia-assoc. D+
- sand ingestion - typically older foals
parasitic causes of foal D+
- Nematodes
- strongyloides westeri
- parascaris equorum
- small/large strongyles - Cryptosporidium
viral causes of foal D+
- rotavirus (most common)
- coronavirus
- adenovirus
pathogen of rotavirus in foal D+
- High contagious - transmitted by faecal-oral route
- Short incubation period 18-24hs
- Dz severity determined by: immune status, inoculation dose, age
- Small intestine only - denudes SI microvilli: brush border enzyme deficiency leading to inadequate digestion and osmotic D+ in the colon, compensatory crypt cell proliferation (increased secretion), production of an enterotoxin
- Age-related colonic compensation: worse if <30d
dx of rotavirus
faecal antigen tests
tx of rotavirus in foals
- supportive: IV and enteral fluids
- bismuth subsalicylate
- ABs not indicated unless foal <2wks
explain protocol for maternal vaccination to prevent rotavirus
1st preg vaccinate in gestational months 8,9 and 10
thereafter booster during last month of preg
w/ DuvaxynR
list bacterial causes of foal D+
- Cl.perfringens biotype A and C
- Cl.difficile
- Salmonella
- Bacteroides fragilis
- Rhodococcus equi
- Lawsonia intracellularis
- E.coli (rare)
compare CS of C.perfringens biotype C and A in foals
- biotype C: haemorrhagic D+, abdo distension, colic, circulatory shock, high mortality
- biotype A: signs more variable, variable mortality, include transient bloody stool, colic and fever
Diagnosis of clostridial D+ in foals
- Enterotoxin in C.perfringens
- Toxin A/B C.difficile
- PCR
- Culture
tx of clostridial D+ in foals
- Supportive
- crystalloids + colloids
- blood gas –> acid/base + lytes
- anti-inflam/analgesia
- nutrition - enteral/parenteral - ABs: metronidazole +/- penicillin
- Biosponge
clinicopath findings assoc. w/ salmonella D+
- initial degenerative neutropaenia and evidence of toxicity
- rebound neutrophilia
- elevated fibrinogen
- severe hypoproteinaemia
- lyte disturbances
diagnosis of salmonella in foals
- Blood culture: foals <1mo freq. bacteraemic
- Faecal culture: five samples spread out
- Faecal PCR
ABs to tx. salmonella D+
gentamicin, fluoroquinolones
when is parenteral nutrition required in foals?
if milk with-held for
>6hr in neonates
>24hrs in older foals
when is “GIT rest” indicated in foals?
rest for 12-24hrs if
colic, abdo distention, haemorrhagic D+, rotaviral or clostridial infection
describe parenteral nutrition protocol in colicky foal
Dextrose 4-8mg/kg/min IV for up to 48hrs
components of parenteral fluid plan in foal w/ D+
Deficit (% dehydrated x BW) to correct over 6hrs
Ongoing losses + maintenance = the rest
3 electrolyte abnormalities assoc. w/ foal D+
- hyponatraemia
- hypokalaemia
- hypochloraemia
what blood gas parameters indicated tx. for metabolic acidosis
low CO2 + low bicarb
pH <7.25 and base deficit >10mEq
how do you calculate bicarb deficit?
Deficit = Base deficit (mEq/L) X BW (kg) x 0.5 (bicarb space)
–> replace half rapidly, then over 6hrs
indications for colloids IVFT in foals
- severe hypovol shock
- hypoproteinaemia
- FPT
common CS of endotoxaemia in adults
- fever
- tachypnoea, tachycardia
- dark MM
- toxic gingival line
- increased CRT
less common CS of endotox in adults
- D+
- haemorrhage
- colic
- ileus
- fasciculations
sequelae of edotoxaemia in adults
- DIC
- laminitis
- renal failure
criteria for isolation of adult horses
D+
+ fever OR leukopaenia
ddx infectious causes of adult D+
- salmonella
- clostridium difficile/perfringens
- Coronavirus
- Larval cyathostomiasis
- Exotic: Neorickettsia risticii
ddx non-infectious causes of adult D+
- dietary
- AB induced
- heavy metals (arsenic)
- cantharidin (blister beetle –> leads to hypoCa)
- NSAIDs
- CHO-overload
- intestinal anaphylaxis
- acorns
lab findings assoc. w/ adult D+
- Acidaemia: bicarb loss in D+, lactic acidosis
- Lytes; Hypo Na, Cl, K (loss), hypoCa (incr. loss of protein-bound calcium, decreased intake)
- Hypoproteinaemia (hypoalbumin)
- Neutropaenia w/ toxicity and left shift
- Inc. PCV/Lactate
- Eleavted liver enzymes + pre-renal azotaemia
salmonella risk factors in adult D+
- transportation
- dietary change
- recent ABs
- recent sx
- other GIT dz
- wet, dark conditions
- common use of nasogastric tubes
describe dx of salmonella through faecal cultures
- five faecal cultures/samples no closer than 12 hours apart
- not sensitive dt intermittent shedding + dilution of bacteria in D+
risk factors for clostridial D+
- neonates
- hospitalisation
- AB use
tx of larval cyathostomiasis in adults
- larvicidal doses of fenbendazole
- moxidectin
what can cause sudden emergence of hypobiotic larvae to cause larval cyathostomiasis D+ in adults?
- stress: sx, hot weather, handling
NSAID tox is associated with?
Right dorsal colitis
tx of Right dorsal colitis
- Reduce work of gut via diet mod
- Metronidazole
- PGs
- Corn oil
- Sucralfate
- Low dose psyllium
- AVOID NSAIDSSSS
arms of colitis management
- IVFT and lytes
- Preservation of colloid oncotic pressure
- Suppression of inflam
- Mucosal repair
- Maintain adequate calorific intake
- Minimise complications
- Nursing/supportive
maintenance fluids for adult/day vs neonate/day
adult = 60ml/kg/day neonate = 100ml/kg/day
initial fluid rates in L/hr for dehydration
- mild
- mod
- severe
mild 2-5L/hr
mod 5-10L/hr
severe >10L/hr
fluid deficit correction timeframe
half over 3-6hrs, rest over 24hs
parameters useful to assess IVFT
- HR
- mentation
- Urine production
- PCV/Ts
- Lactate
indicated fluid choice if horse in circulatory shock + hypoproteinaemic
- synthetic products at 10ml/kg (penta/hetastarch)
- plasma 2-8L
list 4 anti-endotoxic drugs to manage inflm
1 NSAIDs - flunixin
- Pentoxyfylline
- Polymyxin B
- Plasma
tx neorickettsia w/ what ABs?
tetracyclines
tx clostridial diseases w/ what ABs?
metronidazoles
ABs indicated w/
- severe neutropaenia
- immunocomp (foals)
- bacterial causes
actions of biosponge
absorbs clostridial and endotoxins
management of laminitis/DIC in colitis cases
- ice feet
- dalteparin
- plasma
ddx inflammatory causes of chronic D+
- chronic salmonellosis
- parasitism
- granulomatous enteritis/colitis
- neoplasia
- sand
- mycobacteria
- NSAID tx
- intra-abdominal abscessation
ddx non-inflammatory causes of chronic D+
- dysbiosis: NSAIDs, ABs, dietary stress
arms of management of chronic D+
- Diet: fibre, grass, lytes water
- ABs/Anti-protozoala: metronidazole
- Transfaunation
+/- corticosteroids?