eq colic Flashcards
(48 cards)
what are the signs of colic
flank watching lying down pawing ground rolling restless thrashing
why is colic so common
LI is large and very loosely/not at all attached! so it goes wandering
where are the common places that obstructions ocur
sternal, diaphragmatic, pelic flexures
how can colic lead to shock
loss of vascular supply
abs of endotox into circulation
SIRS
name the 7 main diff colic classifications
spasmodics impaction distention obstruction infarction inflam idiopathic
what advice would you give an O about a colicing horse before you arrive
- wellbedded stable
- remove buckets/feed/anything it could hurt itself on
- let it roll
- walk it for 10 mins max if you really want
if the horse is violently painful - how do you assess it safely??
assess HR (takes a LOT of pain to increase this!!) and RR from distance if poss - check mm colour
administer IV xylazine (220mg for 500kg horse) to analgese and sedate
key aspects of Hx and performe CE
what are impt Hx questions pertaining to colic
- steroptypies eg windsucking, crib biting
- management (stables, pasture)
- parasite tx?
- changes to feeding or turnout
- hx of colic?
what are the impt q regarding the colic episode to ask?
- when started
- duration
- how severe/actions
- feed in and poo out? d+?
- hx of grass sickness on the yard
late stages of acute colic may present as trauma - dont forge to think. but what other forms of ‘fase colic’ are there?
EVERYTHING possible practically..
what is the norm RR and HR and temp
HR - 28-44 (30)
RR = 12-15 (15)
T = 37.5-38.4
describe what major features can be felt in rectal palpation of the horse - in quadrants
LD = SI LV = L colon RD = caecum RV = R colon
why is it impt to ascultate the abdo in horses
external palp impossible
listen for 1 min and record whether borborygmi -, ++ (norm), + (less) or hyper +++
how can you ID the SI from small colon (asc)
inner tubes feel
how can you ID the LI sections
taenia number and arrangement
what ID features does the caecum have
vertical band
name some common abnormalities in acute colic pres
dist SI
pelvic flexure, small colon, caecal impaction
LD/RD displacement
LI torsion
why should abdominocentesis be conducted in acute colic cases
any GI wall changes = this will chnage too
desc basic techn of abdominocentesis
- V midline
- clip and scrub
- 18g, 1.5inch needle
CI in foals and if v distended
why is it that if there is an intestinal blockage, the stomach can rupture
they cant vomit so still prod fluid –> put in a n-gasto tube. if you get >2L then thats significant!!
why is colic in the foal difficult to assess
they dont like to show pain at all!
meconium impaction common
consider developmental abn and bladder rupture
do donkeys usually show signs of colic?
no but impaction common. spinal needle req for abdominocentesis as fat bellied
what is equine dysautonomia
grass sickness
desc the dz of grass sickness
paralytic ileus
a, s/a and chronic
susp c. botulinum type c infection
