Equine GI, Metabolic, Cardiovascular, and Neurologic Diseases

Question 1

What is the primary cause of colic in horses?

Answer 1

Impaction (poor feed, dehydration)

Other causes include gas, displacement, and strangulation.

Question 2

What are the clinical signs of colic?

Answer 2

Gas, displacement, strangulation, rolling, pawing, flank watching, tachycardia, decreased gut sounds.

Question 3

What is the treatment for severe colic?

Answer 3

Nasogastric tube (for reflux), fluids, NSAIDs, surgery if severe.

Question 4

What is Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) associated with?

Answer 4

NSAIDs, high-grain diet, stress.

Question 5

What are the clinical signs of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)?

Answer 5

Bruxism (teeth grinding), weight loss, poor performance, colic after eating.

Question 6

What is the treatment for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)?

Answer 6

Omeprazole (PPI), sucralfate, dietary changes.

Question 7

What causes Right Dorsal Colitis?

Answer 7

Chronic phenylbutazone use.

Question 8

What are the clinical signs of Right Dorsal Colitis?

Answer 8

Diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, colic.

Question 9

What is the treatment for Right Dorsal Colitis?

Answer 9

Stop NSAIDs, misoprostol, sucralfate.

Question 10

How is Potomac Horse Fever transmitted?

Answer 10

Ingesting infected aquatic insects.

Question 11

What are the clinical signs of Potomac Horse Fever?

Answer 11

Severe diarrhea, fever, laminitis.

Question 12

What is the treatment for Potomac Horse Fever?

Answer 12

Oxytetracycline, supportive care, vaccine available.

Question 13

What is the transmission method for Salmonellosis?

Answer 13

Fecal-oral (contaminated feed, stress-induced shedding).

Question 14

What are the clinical signs of Salmonellosis?

Answer 14

Severe diarrhea, fever, endotoxemia, leukopenia.

Question 15

What is the treatment for Salmonellosis?

Answer 15

Fluids, NSAIDs, plasma, biosecurity.

Question 16

What is the transmission route for Equine Proliferative Enteropathy?

Answer 16

Fecal-oral (affects weanlings 6-12 mo.).

Question 17

What are the clinical signs of Equine Proliferative Enteropathy?

Answer 17

Weight loss, ventral edema, diarrhea, thickened SI.

Question 18

What is the treatment for Equine Proliferative Enteropathy?

Answer 18

Oxytetracycline or doxycycline.

Question 19

What causes choke in horses?

Answer 19

Eating too quickly, poor mastication.

Question 20

What are the clinical signs of choke?

Answer 20

Drooling, dysphagia, nasal discharge with feed material.

Question 21

What is the treatment for choke?

Answer 21

Sedation, nasogastric tube, lavage with water.

Question 22

What is endotoxemia secondary to GI disease associated with?

Answer 22

Colic, diarrhea, retained placenta.

Question 23

What are the clinical signs of endotoxemia?

Answer 23

Tachycardia, toxic gum line, laminitis risk.

Question 24

What is the treatment for endotoxemia?

Answer 24

Fluids, flunixin meglumine (carefully), plasma transfusion, polymyxin B.

Question 25

What causes Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)?

Answer 25

Obesity, insulin resistance.

Question 26

What are the clinical signs of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)?

Answer 26

Laminitis, regional adiposity (neck crest, tail head).

Question 27

What is the treatment for Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)?

Answer 27

Low-sugar diet, exercise, levothyroxine or metformin.

Question 28

What is Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) commonly known as?

Answer 28

Equine Cushing’s.

Question 29

What causes Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)?

Answer 29

Aging (degeneration of dopamine inhibition on pituitary).

Question 30

What are the clinical signs of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)?

Answer 30

Long curly coat, muscle wasting, PU/PD, laminitis.

Question 31

What is the treatment for Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)?

Answer 31

Pergolide (dopamine agonist).

Question 32

What is Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) associated with?

Answer 32

Genetic (Quarter Horses, Impressive lineage).

Question 33

What are the clinical signs of Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)?

Answer 33

Muscle fasciculations, prolapsed third eyelid, weakness.

Question 34

What is the treatment for Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)?

Answer 34

Low-potassium diet, acetazolamide, IV calcium or dextrose for acute attacks.

Question 35

What is White Muscle Disease caused by?

Answer 35

Selenium & vitamin E deficiency.

Question 36

What are the clinical signs of White Muscle Disease?

Answer 36

Weakness, dysphagia in foals, sudden collapse in adults.

Question 37

What is the treatment for White Muscle Disease?

Answer 37

Selenium & vitamin E supplementation.

Question 38

What causes a ruptured bladder in foals?

Answer 38

Parturition trauma, congenital defect.

Question 39

What are the clinical signs of a ruptured bladder in foals?

Answer 39

Straining to urinate, distended abdomen, bradycardia from hyperkalemia.

Question 40

What is the treatment for a ruptured bladder in foals?

Answer 40

Surgical correction, fluids to stabilize K+.

Question 41

What causes Atrial Fibrillation?

Answer 41

High vagal tone, electrolyte imbalance, cardiac disease.

Question 42

What are the clinical signs of Atrial Fibrillation?

Answer 42

Irregularly irregular rhythm, exercise intolerance.

Question 43

What is the treatment for Atrial Fibrillation?

Answer 43

Quinidine (for conversion), diltiazem if persistent.

Question 44

What is Ventricular Tachycardia associated with?

Answer 44

Electrolyte imbalance, endotoxemia, myocarditis.

Question 45

What are the clinical signs of Ventricular Tachycardia?

Answer 45

HR >60 bpm at rest, pulse deficits, syncope.

Question 46

What is the treatment for Ventricular Tachycardia?

Answer 46

Lidocaine, magnesium sulfate, fluids.

Question 47

What is Vesicular Stomatitis transmitted by?

Answer 47

Insect vectors, direct contact.

Question 48

What are the clinical signs of Vesicular Stomatitis?

Answer 48

Blistering ulcers on mouth, feet, teats.

Question 49

What is the treatment for Vesicular Stomatitis?

Answer 49

Supportive care, reportable disease.

Question 50

What causes Guttural Pouch Mycosis?

Answer 50

Aspergillus infection.

Question 51

What are the clinical signs of Guttural Pouch Mycosis?

Answer 51

Epistaxis (can be fatal), dysphagia, Horner’s syndrome.

Question 52

What is the treatment for Guttural Pouch Mycosis?

Answer 52

Surgical occlusion of internal carotid artery, antifungals.

Question 53

How is West Nile Virus (WNV) transmitted?

Answer 53

Mosquito bite (flavivirus).

Question 54

What are the clinical signs of West Nile Virus (WNV)?

Answer 54

Ataxia, muscle fasciculations, recumbency, fever.

Question 55

What is the treatment for West Nile Virus (WNV)?

Answer 55

Supportive care, NSAIDs, vaccine available.

Question 56

What causes Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis?

Answer 56

Mosquito bite (alphavirus).

Question 57

What are the clinical signs of Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis?

Answer 57

Neurologic signs, fever, recumbency, high mortality.

Question 58

What is the treatment for Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis?

Answer 58

Supportive, high mortality, vaccine available.

Question 59

What causes Tetanus?

Answer 59

Wound contamination, deep punctures.

Question 60

What are the clinical signs of Tetanus?

Answer 60

Stiff gait, lockjaw, saw-horse stance, hyperresponsiveness.

Question 61

What is the treatment for Tetanus?

Answer 61

Penicillin, tetanus antitoxin, wound care, sedatives, vaccine available.

Question 62

What causes Botulism?

Answer 62

Ingestion of spoiled feed (haylage, silage), wounds, shaker foal syndrome.

Question 63

What are the clinical signs of Botulism?

Answer 63

Flaccid paralysis, dysphagia, recumbency.

Question 64

What is the treatment for Botulism?

Answer 64

Botulism antitoxin, supportive care.