Equine

Question 1

what is colic?

Answer 1

demonstration of symptoms that are evidence of abdominal pain or GI disease

Question 2

What are the clinical signs of colic?

Answer 2

pawing
down
stretching out/camping out
kicking/biting/looking at abdomen
flehmen
lying upside down (foals)

Question 3

what is the main causes of colic?

Answer 3

gas in GI tract
feed-related
idiopathic / unknown

Question 4

what is the incidence of colic?

Answer 4

4.2%
11% = fatal
mostly occurs in spring time
43% previously colicked

Question 5

if the signalment if a young horse, what are your top 3 differentials for colic?

Answer 5

ascarids
FB
ileocecal intussusception

Question 6

if the signalment is a stallion, what are your top 3 differentials for colic?

Answer 6

testicular torsion
inguinal hernia
entrapped bowel in scrotum

Question 7

if the signalment if postpartum mare, what is your top differential for colic?

Answer 7

colon torsion

Question 8

if the signalment if fat or older horse with colic, what are the top differentials?

Answer 8

strangulating lipoma
epiploic foramen entrapment

Question 9

When taking a history on a horse for colic, what are some things you should examine in the horses environment?

Answer 9

state of stall and bedding
amount of feces and consistency
feed, hay and water
horse condition and behavior

Question 10

during your physical exam, how could you assess aa horses perfusion?

Answer 10

MM
CRT
HR
pulse quality

Question 11

When performing physical exam, what are some indicators that a horse is in pain?

Answer 11

increased HR
increased RR

Question 12

hyperventilation can be a sign of…

Answer 12

metabolic acidosis

Question 13

how can you rule out pulmonary disease during your physical exam?

Answer 13

ausculate the thoracic cavity and abdominal cavity

Question 14

Why should you palpate the hooves during your physical exam?

Answer 14

heat –> impending laminitis
cold –> shock
bounding pulses –> impending laminitis

Question 15

Why is GI disease potentially life threatening in equine patients?

Answer 15

horses cannot vomit
loss of motility or fluid build up can cause stomach or small intestine to rupture

Question 16

when passing a nasogastric tube to reflux a horse, what is a normal amount of reflux and what is abnormal? how does this affect your treatment?

Answer 16

normal = < 2 L of reflux –> treat with fluids and electros
abnormal = 2-4 L of reflux –> wait to give fluids/meds
abnormal = >4L –> do not admin anything, leave NGT in and reflux every 2 hr

Question 17

The characteristics of the reflux can help you localize where the fluid accumulated. Describe this further…

Answer 17

acidic – stomach
neutral or basic – small intestine

Question 18

What should you do prior to performing rectal exam on horse?

Answer 18

restrain with twitch
sedate with alpha 2 agonist (xylazine, detomidine) or butorphanol
warn owner that rectal tear is a risk

Question 19

if you feel a peristaltic wave during rectal exam, what should you do?

Answer 19

stop and allow it to pass
if they are excessive, you can admin lidocaine and warm water into rectum or N-butylscopolammonium

Question 20

where is the cecum located in the horse?

Answer 20

on the right

Question 21

where is the spleen located in horses?

Answer 21

left abdomen

Question 22

which structures are found on ventral midline in the horse?

Answer 22

urethra
uterus
bladdeer
bladder
inguinal rings

Question 23

which structures are found in the left abdomen of the horse?

Answer 23

spleen
left kidney
nephrosplenic ligament
pelvic flexure

Question 24

when assessing the abdominal structurs of the horse, what characteristics are you assessing?

Answer 24

position
motility
distention
obstruction
thickness
abdominal fluid
fibrin on serosal wall
masses

Question 25

which rectal tears are life-threatening and why based on their criteria?

Answer 25

grades 3-5 3: all layers except serosa are torn 4: all layers torn into mesocolon 5: all layers torn and feed goes into abdomen

Question 26

why are grades 1 and 2 rectal tears not life-threatening?

Answer 26

1: mucosa and submucosa torn 2: muscularis torn only

Question 27

what is the minimum database for a horse with colic?

Answer 27

history physical exam rectal palpation NGT and reflux PCV, TP, Lactate, CBC, Chem

Question 28

if you have an increased PCV in a horse with colic, what does this mean?

Answer 28

dehydration, splenic contraction (pain, endotoxemia)

Question 29

what could be the cause of a decreased PCV in a horse with colic?

Answer 29

intra-abdominal bleed

Question 30

what is the cause of an decreased TP in a horse with colic?

Answer 30

protein loss due to protein-losing enteropathy starvation

Question 31

what is the cause of increased lactate in a horse with colic?

Answer 31

tissue is not being adequately perfused (dehydration, shock, ischemic/necrotic tisse)

Question 32

what causes a decreased WCC and neutrophils?

Answer 32

endotoxemia (gut wall is compromised so endotoxin is entering the bloodstream)

Question 33

what causes increased WCC and neutrophils?

Answer 33

chronic inflammation

Question 34

what causes increased fibrinogen?

Answer 34

chronic inflammation

Question 35

what causes decreased electrolytes?

Answer 35

off-feed compromise of gut wall and loss of the ability to absorb electrolytes

Question 36

what causes serum creatinine to be increased?

Answer 36

prerenal azotemia (dehydration, poor perfusion)

Question 37

what would cause an increase in total bilirubin?

Answer 37

anorexia not always pathologic

Question 38

what would cause an increase CK and alkaline phosphatase?

Answer 38

muscle injury due to self-traumatizing bc of colic

Question 39

what would cause an increase CK and alkaline phosphatase?

Answer 39

muscle injury due to self-traumatizing bc of colic

Question 40

where should you perform abdominocentesis?

Answer 40

lowest part of abdomen, just behind sternum, slightly off midline (to avoid spleen)

Question 41

if you collect fluid from the abdomen, test the lactate, and the results show that the lactate is elevated higher than blood lactate by 2 mmol/L, what does this suggest?

Answer 41

the gut is very ill

Question 42

describe normal abdominal fluid

Answer 42

yellow/clear <1 g/dL protein <5000 cells 24-60% neutrophils

Question 43

what are the advantages of abdominal ultrasound in the workup of GI disease in horses?

Answer 43

evaluate GI wall thickness evaluate GI motility Evaluate presence of fluid horses that are too small for rectal palpation

Question 44

how do you prepare a horse for gastroscopy?

Answer 44

fast for 12 hours, no water for 4 hours sedate them with detomidine, xylazine, twitch pass 3 meteeer scope like an NG tube inflate stomach with air deflate stomach with active suction

Question 45

what is the main purpose for performing gastroscopy?

Answer 45

you inflate the stomach with air to examine the lesser curvature, margo plicatus, pylorus, and proximal duodenum

Question 46

how do you treat horses with signs of colic?

Answer 46

admin flunixin meglumine and check on them at the next call