Equine Flashcards
(81 cards)
1
Q
equine scientific name
A
equus caballus
2
Q
foal
A
baby horse
3
Q
filly
A
young female < 4 years
4
Q
colt
A
young male < 4 years
5
Q
stallion
A
intact male
6
Q
gelding
A
castrated male
7
Q
yearlings
A
1 year old horse
8
Q
mare
A
adult female
9
Q
what type of hoofstock are horses?
A
perissodactyla
10
Q
light horse breeds
A
athletes
used for performance (racing, riding)
usually hot bloods (known to be more nervous and energetic): Arabians, Thoroughbreds
11
Q
draft horses
A
known as cold bloods
large boned and heavy bodied breeds for heavy work
have calm disposition
ex: Clydesdales, Percherons
12
Q
warm bloods
A
produced by crossing hot and cold blood horses to produce calmer temperaments but with athletic ability
ex: Trakehner, Hosteiner
13
Q
ponies
A
smaller, temperament is typically conducive to kids
ex: stocky miniature, Shetland ponies
some ponies are proportioned similar to horses due to breeding with horse breeds
14
Q
donkeys
A
equids that are descendants from African wild ass
15
Q
burro
A
donkey of Mexican descent
smaller than most donkeys
16
Q
mule
A
created by breeding a mare with a male donkey
considered sterile animals
17
Q
flehman response
A
lifting upper lip when smelling to keep scent in
cats and horses have
18
Q
how are horses measured (height)?
A
by hands from top of the hoof to top of the withers
19
Q
about how tall are ponies?
A
~ 14 hands high
20
Q
how do you approach a horse?
A
on the left side and let them know you’re there (close contact, gentle touch)
speak quietly, avoid sudden movements
look at ears to make sure horse is focusing their attention on you
21
Q
how do horses control their ears?
A
can move ears independently
22
Q
ears pinned back
A
stressed
23
Q
how should you let a horse smell you?
A
hand palm up with fingers flat
24
Q
sensitive areas on a horse
A
withers, flanks, legs, nose, ears
25
how should you not approach a horse?
going under the horse or directly behind (should be 15 ft from hind end)
don't stand between a horse and a solid object
26
what behavioral signs indicate that a horse is upset?
whites of eyes visible, teeth showing
26
what does a swishing tail indicate?
could indicate irritation and about to kick
27
locomotive terms from slowest to fastest
trot, canter, gallop
27
horse stocks
confines a horse's movements
28
how do you get a horse into a stock?
put on lead rope and halter, then lead the horse towards the stock, look forward while leading, stay on outside of stock to the left
29
lead shanks/chains and twitches
chains are used over the nose, under the chin, in the mouth, or under the lip
twitch applies pressure with intent to distract attention or induce endorphin release (only apply a twitch if the horse is haltered and has a lead rope in case the horse spooks)
30
are lead shanks/chains typically used in vet med?
not often used due to discomfort and possible harm to lip/gum tissue
31
what are the types of twitches?
hand twitch or mechanical
hand twitch commonly performed with loose skin in the neck area
32
how long should twitches be left on for?
no more than 20 minutes
33
restraining foals
they are delicate and lack handling experience
keeping the mare close helps
if the foal isn't halter broken, cradling is the best method
can also grasp base of tail in exuberant foals but don't pull upwards or they will sit down
34
stallion restraint
they have an inborn tendency to try dominating handlers and other horses
35
types of bridles
can have a bit or not
bit = metal piece that goes in their mouth to allow better control of the head
nosebands can also be added to keep horse from fussing with the bit
36
grooming restraint
cross-ties
37
grooming
start with rubber curry comb in circular motions to remove mud/debris (don't use on bony prominences)
next use stiff brush to remove deep dirt, brush in direction of hair growth with flicking motion (don't use on face)
towel off entire body, wipe out eye and nostril area, untangle mane and tail with fingers or comb
38
husbandry
remove bedding and waste from the stalls (if dirt floor: rake dirt and may apply lime for disinfection but must be removed before animal is returned; cement floors and rubber mats: pressure sprayer to clean, disinfect with spray on walls, managers, and buckets)
stalls bedded down with shavings or straw
always have fresh water available
don't share salt blocks between hospitalized patients
39
tools used for husbandry
pitch-fork used to carry flakes of hay
manure fork used for sifting through dirty bedding
40
what is the most common grain given to horses?
oats
41
mash
food made with boiling water and wheat bran to support ill animals, foaling, and prevent colic in cold weather
42
why do we float equine teeth?
they often develop enamel points or sharp edges on the buccal edge and lingual edge of the upper and lower arcade of teeth
43
floating
filing down sharp edges of the teeth with a rasp
44
< 11 years old dentition
all lower incisors have a rounded, oval shape
45
> 11 years old dentition
as the horse ages the surface of the incisors change: triangular shape, then rectangular shape
46
infundibular cup
center of the infundibulum
wear of occlusal surface causes the cup to get smaller and disappear from the lower incisors at ~8 years leaving an enamel spot (deepest part of the infundibulum)
47
dental star
corresponds with pulp cavity and appears at 8 years old in 1st incisor
appears as a line and changes to large round shape as the occlusal surface is worn down further
still visible after cup and enamel spot have worn away
48
Galvayne's groove
located on the lateral surface of the upper 3rd incisor
appears first near the gum line at ~10 years old
groove extends halfway down tooth at 15 years old
extends all the way down tooth at 20 years old
disappears at 30 years old
49
hoof care
regular trimming every 6-8 weeks
check shoes regularly
clean hoofs with hoof pick regularly
50
laminitis
"founder"
painful condition affecting the front feet
inflammation of delicate lamina that attaches the hoof wall to the coffin bone; the outer hoof wall can't expand to accommodate swelling so laminae becomes compressed and circulation is inhibited causing laminae to degenerate
degeneration causes coffin bone to pull away from hoof wall
51
most common cause of founder
grass founder: high sugar content of the grass signals the body to produce more insulin causing insulin resistance
using a grazing muzzle allows the horse to be outside but reduces amount they can eat
if founder is due to lots of green grass: isolate horse and feed grass hay only
52
founder treatment
hoofs are trimmed, possibly iced, and support foam is packed into the hoof along with an NSAID (Bute or Phenylbutazone) or Euiiox to reduce inflammation
can also give DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide): strong solvent that is said to have anti-inflammatory properties and aids with absorption of other drugs
53
underrun heels
angle of heel wall is less than that of the toe wall
continual trimming can maintain balance of the hooves
54
superficial cracks in hoof wall
referred to as weather cracks
caused by a change in weather, environment, or hoof capsule moisture content
treatment: rest and monitor
55
flare hoofs
hoof distortion where the wall separates from the sole at the ground surface
can become white line disease if opportunistic bacteria invade and infect exposed nonsensitive hoof tissue (aka seedy toe)
coffin bone displacement can occur if bacteria invades deeper and reaches sensitive tissues
56
navicular disease
one of the most common causes of chronic forelimb lameness
usually only affects horses 8-10+ years old
progressive condition, starts with intermittent lameness
lameness is bilateral so no obvious head nod present, only indicator is shortened stride
57
which breeds is navicular disease common in?
warmblood horses, Quarter horses, Thoroughbreds
58
diagnostics for navicular disease
diagnostics make lameness more visible
1. lunging horse in a circle in both directions: inside foot shows greatest lameness
2. nerve block on 1 of 2 digits: lameness more visible
3. flexion test of distal forelimb: may produce transient exacerbation of lameness
4. hoof testers to find painful areas
59
what is a way of diagnosing navicular disease that is used but not necessarily effective?
radiographs
changes are variable and don't always correlate to lameness
60
navicular disease treatment
can only manage, not cure
NSAIDs (Phenylbutazone), corrective shoeing
61
why can't horses vomit?
they have a 1-way valve in their esophagus that only permits fluid and gas to go into the stomach
62
horse stomach
small so feed limited amounts of food several times a day
63
horse cecum and colon
contains microbes which produce VFAs which are important for energy
acids must be buffered by secretion of bicarbonate directly into the colon and cecum
64
horse small intestine
duodenum ---> jejunum ---> ileum ---> cecum
duodenum located dorsally on right side: not involved in small-intestinal volvulus or torsions, can be felt on a rectal exam when distended
65
horse hindgut/large intestine
consists of large colon and cecum
ingesta mixing with microbes = fermentation
ingesta moves through multiple flexures or openings that are areas of potential obstruction
impactions in the colon are the most common cause of colic
66
colic
distention of the GI tract with gas, fluid, or ingesta
#1 horse killer
67
colic CS
restlessness, painful signs, depression, decreased appetite and defecation, tachycardia, fever, profuse sweating
68
colic diagnostics
auscultate abdomen and thorax, percuss abdomen, rectal exam
69
auscultating abdomen for colic
auscultate over several areas: cecum on right side, small intestine high on left side, and colon on lower right and left sides
gas sounds = possible ileus
intestinal sounds with pain episodes = possible obstruction
fluid sounds = impending diarrhea associated with colitis
lack of sound = ileus or ischemia
70
percussion of abdomen for colic
identifies grossly distended segment of intestine (cecum on right side, colon on left side) that may need to be trocarized or surgery
71
colic treatment
analgesia (Banamine or Butorphanol), nasogastric tubing with mineral oil, sedatives (Xylazine), IVF
could also use: antispasmodics, parasympathetic drugs, steroids
72
cribbing
"wind sucking"
stereotypic behavior triggered by a stressor related to lifestyle: boredom, frustration
horse grabs an object, pulls back, arches neck, and gulps air into upper part of esophagus with distinct grunting sound
associated with colic
73
which types of horses are more susceptible to cribbing?
warmbloods have a higher percentage of cribbing based on heredity
74
what effects does prolonged cribbing have?
can wear down upper incisors, lead to overdevelopment of particular neck muscles and osteoarthritis of hyoid
some horses will lose weight due to preferring to crib rather than eat
75
what can we do about cribbing?
don't try to stop it, try to prevent it
it is a stress relief behavior so address any possible underlying conditions
give the horse the ability to appease oral fixation but increase movement: give small forage amounts during the day and give lots of stimulation and companionship
76
nasogastric intubation
1. lubricate one end of the stomach tube and measure
2. insert the tube into the ventral medial aspect of the nostril using a finger to ensure direction
3. advance the tube until you reach the level of the nasopharynx: horse will swallow due to pressure
4. blow into the tube to dilate the esophagus and pass the tube into the stomach
5. check for gastric reflux by attaching a stomach pump and priming the tube with warm water
6. lower the end of the tube into a bucket to drain fluid, record amount
7. administer fluids/meds
77
what is nasogastric intubation used for?
can be used to identify abnormal contents and administer fluids and treatments
2nd most common diagnostic for colic
78
how can you check the placement of a nasogastric tube once you reach the nasopharynx?
palpate the esophagus or put negative pressure on the tube (can be sensed by sucking on the end of the tube)
79
how do you remove a nasogastric tube?
blow into the tube to clear fluids, place thumb over the end and kink the tube while withdrawing in 1 fluid motion to prevent aspiration
