GIT Part 2

Question 1

Condition involving disorder of the intestines, ranging from gas pains, impactions/blockages, twisted, displaced or strangulated loops of intestine

Answer 1

Colic

Question 2

What is the survival rate if the capillary refill time is greater than four seconds

Answer 2

12%

Question 3

What does a horse with colic look like?

Answer 3

Sweating, pawing, looking at flank
HR and respiratory rate elevated
Rolling
Refuse food, no pooping

Question 4

How is colic diagnosed

Answer 4

Physical exam
Ausculting GI sounds
Rectal exam
NG tube

Question 5

What will you hear with ausculting a horse with gas or spasmodic colic

Answer 5

Increase in sounds

Question 6

What will you hear when ausculting a horse with impaction, displacement or twist colic

Answer 6

Decrease in sounds

Question 7

How do you treat spasmodic or gas colic

Answer 7

Light exercise

Question 8

How do you treat impaction or blockage colic

Answer 8

Administer laxative through NG tube, IV fluids

Question 9

Other ways of treating colic?

Answer 9

Pain control (flunixin meglumine, phenylbutazone)
Sedative
Antispasmodic (buscopan)

Question 10

Displacement or twist colic may require…

Answer 10

Surgical correction

Question 11

What are the two categories of colic

Answer 11

Medical
Surgical

Question 12

How serious is colic

Answer 12

Can be a minor bellyache or a life-threating condition requiring surgery
Full recovery = 3-6 months

Question 13

When is colic season and why

Answer 13

Fall, water is cold/frozen (they do not want to drink it)
Forage is dry

Question 14

Complications of colic?

Answer 14

Most medical resolve
Surgical has complications:
- endotoxins cause shock/laminitis
- scar tissue from incision = pain

Question 15

Describe spasmodic vs gas colic. Symptoms?

Answer 15

Spasmodic = spasms/cramping of intestines
Gas = gas build up within intestines

Symptoms:
- acute pain
- Loud borborygmi
- Self-limiting (improves on its own)

Question 16

Gas colic may progress to…

Answer 16

Displacement colic

Question 17

Describe feed impaction colic

Answer 17

Blockage of feed in intestines
Mild, intermittent pain
Decreased fecal output
Quiet borborygmi
Pain management, laxatives, IV fluids
Good prognosis if uncomplicated

Question 18

Rarely, during impaction colic, what can happen?

Answer 18

Intestines can rupture

Question 19

What is enterolith colic

Answer 19

Stone forms in the intestines causing blockage
Acute intermittent pain as stone moves
Radiographs
Mild can resolve, some need surgery

Question 20

Where is enterolith colic most common

Answer 20

Geographic areas with calcium

Question 21

What is displacement colic

Answer 21

Loop of intestines moves into abnormal position
Mild -> acute/severe
Decreased borborygmi
Low fecal output
Pain management
Rolling techniques might slide it back into place
Often surgical
Good prognosis if identified quickly

Question 22

What is torsion colic

Answer 22

Section of intestine twists around itself
Acute, uncontrollable pain
Toxicity: (may lead to intestine death)
- high HR
- muddy mucous membranes
- no borborygmi
Surgical
Guarded prognosis

Question 23

What is strangulation colic

Answer 23

Section of intestine constricted when becomes trapped between two structures or something wraps around it
Acute, uncontrollable pain
Signs of toxicity
Surgical
Guarded prognosis

Question 24

Most common form of strangulation colic?

Answer 24

Lipoma wrapping around loop of intestine

Question 25

Tips to prevent colic

Answer 25

Deworm
Several small meals a day on schedule
High quality feed
Increase pasture time
Daily exercise
Fresh water