GIT Part 1

Question 1

What is peristalsis

Answer 1

Muscles contracting around digestive tract moving food along

Question 2

How does the horse prevent stomach acid from coming in contact with the stomach lining

Answer 2

Presence of fibre in the top half of the stomach

Question 3

Three regions of the small intestine

Answer 3

Duodenum, jejunum, ileum

Question 4

What happens to the small intestine when horses are fed natural diet

Answer 4

Feed keeps it plump, it cannot twist as easily

Question 5

What nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine

Answer 5

Protein, fats, oils, CHO

Question 6

Parts of the large intestine?

Answer 6

Cecum (heating system, fibres broken down by bacterial fermentation)
Large colon (fibre fermentation continues)
Small colon (reabsorption of water, fecal balls form)

Question 7

*** matching table in slides

Answer 7

Do it

Question 8

How do you evaluate the health of the GIT in horses

Answer 8

Capillary refill time (~1 sec) in gums

Question 9

What is it called when a stethoscope is used to listen to listen to the flanks

Answer 9

Auscultation

Question 10

What quadrants are listened to during auscultation

Answer 10

Upper/lower left, upper/lower right

Question 11

How many sounds should we hear during auscultation every minute

Answer 11

1-3/min

Question 12

What is borborygmus vs borborygmi

Answer 12

US = refer to one stomach gurgle
I = refer to multiple stomach gurgles

Question 13

What does it mean when you hear no borborygmi vs constant borborygmi

Answer 13

None = possible twist
Constant = GI upset (diarrhea)

Question 14

What is TNC

Answer 14

Borborygmi too numerous to count

Question 15

What are the palpable structures of the GI tract

Answer 15

Colon, SI, bladder, uterus

Question 16

What is nasogastric intubation

Answer 16

Passing a long, flexible tube through the nose into the stomach

Question 17

What can an NG tube help identify

Answer 17

Choke, gastric reflux

Question 18

What is gastric reflux

Answer 18

Fluid build up in the stomach

Question 19

Test involving inserting a metal teat or needle into abdominal cavity to obtain fluid to analyze

Answer 19

Abdominocentesis (belly tap)

Question 20

Imagine technique allowing the vet to visualize soft tissue structures and detect gas build up, thickened intestinal walls, displaced segments of intestines

Answer 20

Ultrasound

Question 21

Imaging technique rarely used for abdomen (too large)

Answer 21

Radiographs

Question 22

Endoscopy is…

Answer 22

Imaging technique involving passing instrument through same route as NG tube in order to visualize structures

Question 23

Tests that can help evaluate organ diseases, other disruptions in bodily functions

Answer 23

Blood test

Question 24

Choke is a…

Answer 24

Blockage of the horse’s esophagus caused by a mass of dry forage or grain or a solid object

Question 25

Signs of a choking horse

Answer 25

Cough
Distress
Discharge from mouth and nostrils (saliva)
Inability to swallow
Palpations on left side of neck

Question 26

How can you confirm a horse is choking

Answer 26

NG tube

Question 27

How do you treat a choking horse

Answer 27

Gentle massage
Sedation + NG tube to push obstruction
Water to break up obstruction
May resolve on own

Question 28

Is choke serious?

Answer 28

Usually not life-threating, can be resolved
Rarely will damage esophagus (if extended period)

Question 29

Complications of choke?

Answer 29

Aspiration if large amounts of water used
Nosebleeds
Inflammation of esophagus leads to scar tissue (strictures) and may cause choke again

Question 30

Erosion of the stomach lining is called…

Answer 30

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome

Question 31

How many mature horses in training have ulcers?

Answer 31

60-90%

Question 32

How do you manage gastric ulcers?

Answer 32

Increase grazing time
Minimize stress
Gastrogard (omeprazole)

Question 33

How serious are ulcers?

Answer 33

Impact performance

Question 34

Complications of gastric ulcers?

Answer 34

Perforation, reflux into esophagus