Equine: Dental + GI

Question 1

What type of teeth do horses have?

Answer 1

hypsodont teeth - long crowns w/ long root, continuous eruption, enamel folds supported by cementum and dentin

Question 2

What is the infundibulum or “cups” of horse teeth?

Answer 2

depressions on the occlusal surface of teeth filled with cementum - common place for cavities

Question 3

What’s a foal and mature dental formula?

Answer 3

Foal - 9mo: 2 (i3/3, c0/0, p3/3) = 24
Mature: 2(I3/3, C1/1, P3(4)/3(4), M3/3) =36-44

mares often have small or no canine/wolf teeth

Question 4

At what age do all permanant teeth finish erupting?

Answer 4

5 yrs

Question 5

What is the curvature of spee? Curvature of wilson?

Answer 5

Spee - natural upward curve of back of teeth w/ mandible
Wilson - Occlusal plane of caudal teeth across arcades (like a rainbow)

Question 6

What are some signs of dental dz?

Answer 6

“quidding”
difficulty chewing, washing mouth out in water bucket, weight loss, nasal discharge, facial swelling, malodorous breath, issue with bridle/bit

Question 7

Why might one do regular floating?

Answer 7

sharp points develop along outer edges of upper cheek teeth + inside edge of lower cheek teeth. May lacerate tongue + cheek
Any teeth not in occlusion prone to overgrowth

Question 8

When can dental dz happen? What types of dental dz or abnormalities are there?

Answer 8

caries
fractured teeth
step/wave mouth
hooks/ramps
abnormal diastema
routine development of enamel points
ectopic teeth - dentigerous cyst
supernumerary teeth

Question 9

How can we tx, prevent dental dz? prognosis?

Answer 9

tx by carious lesions filled, or extraction
prevent by reg oral exams and floating

px good

Question 10

What is esophageal obstruction?

Answer 10

choke - feed obstructs esophageous!! NOT airway
caused by dry beet pulp, hay cubes, alfalfa pellets, poor dentition, “bolters”, too large treats
signs = extending neck, pacing, leaving feed, repeated swallowing, retching, white or green frothy nasal discharge

Question 11

What do we advise a client with a horse suspected with choke?

Answer 11

remove all feed, water and bedding till vet arrives

Question 12

How do we tx and prevent choke? prognosis?

Answer 12

tx - meds to relax esophagus, pass nasogastric tube, system antibiotics to prevent pneumonia
prevent by regular dental care, soak hard feed, discourage bolting (feed puzzles, feed thru muzzles)
px good if no aspiration

Question 13

What is equine gastric ulcer syndrome?

Answer 13

ES/GGD (squamous or glandular)
very common - factors include horses secrete gastric fluid continuously, any high concentrate diets, stress, high speed exercise, very course stalky feed (eGGD)

Question 14

How do we diagnose EGUS?

Answer 14

1. clin signs - mild colic, off feed but more commonly water, weight loss if chronic, reduced performance, bruxism
2. gastroscopy - fast for 6hr prior

Question 15

How do we treat EGUS? Preventive? Prognis?

Answer 15

tx with gastroprotectants - omeprazole, ranitidine
prevention - alfalfa hay, constant grazing/frequent meals, preventative dose gastroprotectants, avoid exercise on empty stomach, antacides prior to exercise
px excellent

Question 16

What is the clinical signs of colitis? what happens if its severe

Answer 16

EMERGENCY! endotoxemia + electrolyte loss
Signs = colic, watery diarrhea, depression, anorexia, and 2nd laminitis

Question 17

What is the etiology of colitis?

Answer 17

salmonella, clostridial, neorickettsia (potomac horse fever), NSAIDs, antibiotics

Question 18

How can we tx/prevent colitis?

Answer 18

tx w/ hospitalization in isolation on IV fluids, ice boots and supportive care
prevent with avoid oral antibiotics, PHF: avoid welands w/ snails + vx available
unusually unavoidable

Question 19

What is colic? What can it be caused from? What can it mimic?

Answer 19

abdominal pain
caused by Gi - gas, impaction, obstruction, urinary stones, liver inflam, labor
mimicks pleuropneumonia, laminitis, fracture

Question 20

What are some associated risk factors with colid?

Answer 20

dehydration, coarse feed, sudden dec in exercise, feeding meals high in non structural carbs
normal anatomy - cecum, pelvic flexure + btw/ sm+lrg colon common impactions

Question 21

What are the signs of mild VS severe colic

Answer 21

mild - reluctance to move, flank watching, lying down, pawing, teeth grinding
severe - kicking, stretching, rolling, refusal to stand, sweating, depressed

Question 22

What are some instructions to give to the client if your horse is colicing?

Answer 22

avoid giving meds to not mask symptoms w/ analgesics, no food but can have water, prevent horse from rolling, stay safe themselves

Question 23

How can we classify colid is in the small intestine vs large?

Answer 23

sml - rapid progressions of signs (reflux, endotoxemia), usually sx, px poor to good
Lg - mild, slow progression of signs, usually medical, px good to excellent

Question 24

What types of colic might there be?

Answer 24

gas, motility issues:spasmodic vs ileus, displacement, entrapment(LDD), volvulus, strangulation, obstruction, impaction, infection

Question 25

How can we treat colic medically vs sx?

Answer 25

make decision to go to sx QUICKLY

Question 26

What is the colic workuP/

Answer 26

1. Hx+Pe - >100 = pain, gut sounds, water?
2. Blood gas values
3. PCV, TP
4. Sedation/analgesics
5. Rectal exam, 5. nasogastric intubation
6. Jug IV cath, 8. Abdomintocentesis
7. IV fluids - hypertonic, isotonic (LRS)

Question 27

What is an abdomintocentesis?

Answer 27

taking fluid from the abdomen.

Question 28

What does 7.2% hypertonic saline for for colic fluids?

Answer 28

rapidly restore systemic volume by drawing interstitial reserve into the vessels by hyperosmotic draw
>5% dehydrated or systemic lactate >4 mmol/L
1L hypertonic saline = 10L of normotonic fluids
MUST BE FOLLOWED BY AT LEAST ^^
Never sure if stomach entirely empty so bolus 8L every one-2 hours

Question 29

What is the shock bolus rate for equines?

Answer 29

20mL/kg over 30-60 min (29mlx500kg=10L LRS over 30/50 min)
OR 1L hyperton saline+

reassess
2 times maintenance until remainder replaces
ain’t = 2mL/kg/hr (2x2mlx500kg=2L/hr)