GIT Flashcards
(171 cards)
expected elevated pulse of a colicky foal <1month old
80-100bpm
expected elevated pulse of a colicky foal < 2month old
70bpm
expected elevated pulse of a colicky foal < 3month old
60bpm
why is PCV/TP not as reliable in foals as adults?
foals always have quite a low protein, but still okay indicator of hydration
what does lactate concentration indicate?
perfusion
is peritoneal fluid analysis routinely performed in foals?
no - dt increased complication rates vs. adults
what is US useful for when investigating a colicking foal?
GIT: intestinal motility, intestinal wall thickness, stomach size, peritoneal fluid
Umbilical structures
DDx for obstructive causes of colic in foals
- Non-strangulating:
- meconium impaction
- LI impaction
- intussusception - Strangulating
- intestinal volvulus
- herniation
DDx for congenital causes of colic in foals
- intestinal atresia
- ileocolonic aganlionosis
ddx for misc. causes of colic in goals
- gastroduodenal ulceration
- peritonitis
- uroperitonuem
- umbilica/abdominal abscess
- enterocolitis
what is normal foal USG
1.005-1.010
when should passage of meconium be completed by?
48hrs
lab data indicative of IVFT in foals
USG >1.020
Lactate >2mmol/L
analgesia options in colicky foal
- NSAIDs (if hydrated): flunixin, meloxiam, ketoprofen
- Opioids: butorphanol (can cause profound sedation)
- Alpha-2 agonists: xylazine (in older foals)
initial tx of meconium impaction
- warm soapy water
- foal standing/lateral
- lubricate soft tubing (Foley cath)
- 50-100mls for a 50kg foal - administered by gravity flow
- can rpt several times (beware rectal irritation)
MOA of retention enema using acetylcysteine
4% acetylcysteine
MOA: cleaves disulphide bonds and decreases the viscosity of meconium
- keep in place for 30-45mins
non-infectious causes of foal diarrhoea
- foal heat (assoc. w/ change in gut flora/copraphagy and starting to eat mare’s feed)
- nutritional (ie. large quantities of milk w/ premies)
- systemic dz (ie. dummy foals w/ impaired GIT perfusion)
DDx nutritional causes of foal diarrhoea
- commonly in foals not able to handle large quantities of milk ie. premature/sick foals
- milk replacers
- lactose intolerance
- perinatal asphyxia-assoc. D+
- sand ingestion - typically older foals
parasitic causes of foal D+
- Nematodes
- strongyloides westeri
- parascaris equorum
- small/large strongyles - Cryptosporidium
viral causes of foal D+
- rotavirus (most common)
- coronavirus
- adenovirus
pathogen of rotavirus in foal D+
- High contagious - transmitted by faecal-oral route
- Short incubation period 18-24hs
- Dz severity determined by: immune status, inoculation dose, age
- Small intestine only - denudes SI microvilli: brush border enzyme deficiency leading to inadequate digestion and osmotic D+ in the colon, compensatory crypt cell proliferation (increased secretion), production of an enterotoxin
- Age-related colonic compensation: worse if <30d
dx of rotavirus
faecal antigen tests
tx of rotavirus in foals
- supportive: IV and enteral fluids
- bismuth subsalicylate
- ABs not indicated unless foal <2wks
explain protocol for maternal vaccination to prevent rotavirus
1st preg vaccinate in gestational months 8,9 and 10
thereafter booster during last month of preg
w/ DuvaxynR