Smith.Ch7.AlterationsinAlimentary&HepaticFunction Flashcards
A gram stain of feces with a predominance of gram-positive rods may indicated an anaerboic overgrowth of what bacteria?
C. difficile
Which clostridium species in foals has been implicated in the severe necrotizing enterocolitis in foals?
C. perfringens, types A NetF toxin producing
Diagnosis of R. equi as a cause of diarrhea involves
-3 wk to 6 month old foals
-TTW-Abdominal fluid cytology/culture
-Abdominal U/S
***R/o other etx of diarrhea
-Fecal PCR
hypoalbuminemia is seen with chronic protein losing enteropathies, such as:
-inflammatory bowel disease (ie: granulomatous enteritis)
-phenylbutazone toxicity (right dorsal colitis)
-hypobiotic cyathostomiasis
-Lawsonia intracellularis infection
-acute colitis conditions (ie: salmonellosis)
If toxicology is a suspected cause of diarrhea in horses, what diagnostics can be performed?
-Blood lead, liver lead and liver arsenic concentrations measured
-cantharidin– detect blister beetle toxin in urine or GI contents using high pressure liquid chromatography or gas chromatogrpahy mass spectrometry
-oleandrin: urine, serum, GI contents (diarrhea, colic, arrhythmias, renal dz)
Treatment with chronic diarrhea/evaluation to response of treatment
-alter diet to simple grass hay, then pelleted diet, psyllium mucilloid (4oz), 1 to 2 cups of corn oil to daily diet
-Transfaunation
-rectal biopsy +/- course of steroids
-plasma transfaunation
Dzes to consider in ruminants with chronic diarrhea
parasitism
Johne’s disease
Copper deficiency (molybdenosis)
Selenium deficiency
Liver failure
other dzes of individual cows (Bovine leukemia virus, amyloidosis, heart failure, uremia)
Differentials for mild to moderate recurrent colic in horses, may be an indication of a severe problem such as:
bowel entrapment/displacement
thromboembolism
internal abscess
enterolith
sand or other FB
tumor
gastric ulcers
hypobiotic cyathostomiasis
Strongylus vulgaris larval migration
heavy burden of ascarids
abdominal adhesions
cholangiohepatitis
biliary stones
strictured bowel
urinary tract disease
In stallions with colic signs, what should also be examined?
palpate testicles: scrotal hernias or testicular torsions
What are the principles of colic management?
- control of pain
- relief of distention
- relief of obstruction
- treatment of shock
Define melena
dark, tarry feces
Caused by blood in lumen of the stomach or proximal intestinal tract resulting in black (digested) blood appearing in feces
Melena can result from GI tract, but also what other body system?
respiratory– if blood is coughed up, oral or pharyngeal bleeding
What is a frequent cause of of gastric hemorrhage in older horses?
gastric squamous cell carcinoma
Define dysentery
bloody diarrhea
define hematochezia
presence of fresh blood or clots in feces
result of bleeding in the distal GI tract
Frank blood in feces without diarrhea and other evidence of GI dysfunction or systemic illness may be a result of:
bleeding disorder
traumatic foreign body
rectal examination trauma
sadistic rectal trauma
rectal trauma in a mare from a stallion penetrating the rectum
Causes of abdominal distension and constipation in horses: Less common causes:
pregnancy
pelvic mass (abscess tumor)
cecal tympany
hernia, obstructive
intussusception
Uncommon causes of abdominal distension and constipation in horses
anticholinergics
opiates
instrinsic colonic nerve dysfunction
anorectal perineal hernia
hypokalemia
tetanus
hypocalcemic tetany
intramural hematomas on gut
propylene glycol toxicity
Grass sickness (exotic)
