Equine Management - Test II

• 1. Small intestinal volvulus and strangulation
• 2. Intussusception
• 3. Impaction of the ileum
• 4. Thromboembolic mesenteric vascular disease
• 5. Large colon impaction (horse fed poor quality feed; limited access to water)
• 6. Cecal impaction
• 7. Sand Colic (Horse will eat sand along with hay if on the ground; also consume sand if they have to drink from shallow muddy ponds; often found in pelvic flexure and transverse colon.)
• 8. Large Colon Displacements
• 9. Colonic Volvulus
• 10. Enteroliths (consist of mineralized aggregates of ingested salts  that form slowly in the large colon; often found in right dorsal  colon, small colon)

• Heart rate: Mild 40-60 Mod 60-80 Severe 80+
• Respiratory: Mild 20-30 Mod 30-40 Severe 40+
• Temperature: mild & Mod 99 - 100.5 Sever over 103 or under 99
• Mucous Membranes: Mild pale pink Mod pale pink to dark red Severe Reddish to purple
• CRT: Mild 1-2 Mod 2-4 Severe 5+

• a. Evaluate temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral pulse strength, capillary refill time, mucous membrane color and laboratory blood samples (PCV / TP).
• b. Abdominal auscultation
• c. Nasogastric tube intubation
• d. Rectal examination
• e. Abdominocentesis

Gasterophilus spp

• Drashia megastoma (stomach worm)
• Habronema spp. (stomach worm) 
• Trichostrongylus axei (min. stomach worm)
• Gasterophilus spp. (bot larvae)

• Parascaris equorum (ascarids)
• Strongyloides westeri (intestinal threadworm)
• Anoplocephala magna (tapeworm)
• Paranoplocephala mamillana (tapeworm)

• Stronglyes spp. (large strongyles)
• Cyathostomum spp. (small strongyles)
• Oxyuris equi (common pinworm)
• Anoplocephala perfoliata (tapeworm)

Strongylus edentatus (large strongyle larvae)

• Parascaris equorum (ascarid larvae)
• Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (lungworm)
• Draschia megastoma (stomach worm larvae)
• Habronema spp. (stomach worm larvae) 

Strongylus vulgaris (large strongyle larvae)

Strongylus edentatus (large strongyle larvae)

• Drashia megastoma,
• Habronema muscae larvae (“summer sore” nematodes)
• Onchocerca spp. (threadworm) (cervicalis)
• Strongyloides westeri (intestine threadworm)

• Thelazia lacrymalis (eyeworm)
• Onchocerca cervicalis (threadworm)

• Tetanus for Clostridium tetani
• Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis
• West Nile Virus
• Rabies

• Anthrax - for Bacillus anthracis
• Botulism - for Clostridium botulinum
• Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) & Type 4 (EHV-4)
• Equine Viral Arteries
• Equine Influenza
• Potomac Horse Fever caused by Neorickettsia risticii
• Rotaviral Diarrhea
• Snake Bite
• Strangles - Streptococcus equi

• Banamine
• Butazolidan
• Dipyrone

Rumbling or gurgling noises produced by movement of gas in the alimentary canal and audible at a distance

• 22 meters in length
• 7-8 meters in length

• A. Intestinal irritation/decreased perfusion:  causes decreased motility.
• B. Simple obstruction (impaction): increased contractile activity in an attempt to move the obstruction more distally.
• C. Infectious process (enteritis, peritonitis), hypoperfusion from strangulating lesion: decreased or no contractile activity. 

• A. Horses with normal to increased intestinal sounds respond to medical therapy.
• B. Horses with decreased sounds generally require surgery

2( I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 3/3) 40

• Etiology: Many Salomonella spp.
• Clinical Signs:Acute diarrhea, projectile diarrhea, Fever, Depression, Abdominal pain, congested mucous membranes
• Diagnose: Fecal culture at least 5 different cultures should be obtained because shedding in the feces is inconsistent 
• Treatment: Fluid therapy, Antidiarrheals, Anti-inflammatory drugs and Antimicrobial (controversial)
• Prevention: Minimize stress, Isolate sick animals early in disease, Disinfect and clean contaminated areas

Weanlings and young performance horses

Dental problems may be due to uneven wear of teeth, or development of sharp points that can make chewing difficult. This can result in possible problems such as choke or intestinal obstructions. Preventative might be floating the teeth on a routine basis.

• Primarily due to over-consumption of grain and water
• Can be a secondary intestinal obstruction that causes reflux

Abdominal pain

Pass a nasogastric tube to identify presence of gas or fluids

• Decompress stomach using nasogastric tube
• Surgical correction of intestinal obstruction
• Fluid therapy to correct any dehydration/electrolyte imbalance.

• 1. Ivermectin - Liquid and Paste
• 2. Fenbendazole - Granules, Paste & Suspension
• 3. Oxibendazole - Paste
• 4. Dichlovos - Granules
• 5. Thiabendazole/Piperazine - Liquid
• 6. Pyrantel Pamoate - Paste or Liquid
• 7. Pyrantel Tartrate - Granules

Zimecterin (Ivermectin & Praziquantel) - paste

• Red Blood Cells
• Blood-to-blood contact

• Submandibular
• Facial Artery

Palmer and planter digital arteries

Gaskin

Stifle

Calcaneous

• 3rd metatarsal bone
• 2nd & 4th splint bone

• Long pastern; Proximal phalanx
• Short pastern; Middle phalanx
• Coffin bone; Distal phalanx

• radial, intermediate, ulnar, accessory
• 1, 2, 3, 4

In the middle of the handle

Frog and sole

Uses an Equine dental float to float the premolars and molars because they grow to have sharp points due to lack of normal grazing.

50 lbs

Thoroughbred and Draft breed

Licensed veterinarian or licensed equine dental provider under the direction/referral of a licensed veterinarian.

Rope twitch can be dangerous if you over tighten it 

All colors except Appaloosa

All the time. Most sounds 1 hr after eating

Obstruction or perforation

Every 2 months (8wks). Rotate deworming products due to possible parasite resistance.

• Pulse: 28 - 40 bpm
• Respiration: 8-15 rpm
• Temperature: 99-101 F
• Gestation: 11 months (335 days) 

Horses are prone to injuries

• mosquitoes
• Zoonotic with horse being the dead end host

Low predominance, but given because it is a public health risk.

• 1/2 sweet feed and oats
• Reno gets senior food pellet

• 1 flake of hay = 5-7 lbs
• 1 scoop of grain = 3lbs
• % of hay vs feed = 70% hay/30% feed 

• Salt
• Omega 3
• Viatmin 3

• Cause: retrovirus that causes anemia. Transmitted by biting flies
• Stages: acute, chronic or inapparent (?)
• Law: requires Coggins test if horse is going to be moved
• + Coggins: Euthanasia, Quarantine/Sanctuary or Donate to research. Quarantine animals must be branded on shoulder

• Eating dry grains to quickly or
• Alfalfa cubes can cause obstructions

• Regurgitating food, water and saliva through the mouth 
• Anxious after eating and hold its neck straight and arched
• Enlarged cervical esophagus

Complications: Aspiration pneumonia or Stricture or rupture of the esophagus.

• Detection of cervical espohageal enlargement
• Passage of nasogastric tube to confirm luminal obstruction.

• Pass nasogastric tube with warm water lavage - must be done under Xylazine sedation
• Surgery if initial therapeutics are not successful. Radiological & endoscopic techniques are used at this point.

• Feed small quantities of soft food - Episodes of choke can occur up to 40 days after injury even with soft diet.
• Also give broad spectrum antibiotic to prevent aspiration pneumonia

• Place rocks in feed trough to slow down eating
• Regular dental care

Ingestion of dead blister beetles (Epicanta lemniscata) that are trapped in harvested alfalfa. Beetle contains the toxin cartharidin which is highly irritating to mucous membranes. Toxin is absorbed through the intestinal tract and excreted through the kidneys.

• a. Abdominal pain in varying degrees 
• b. Anorexia
• c. Depression
• d. Elevation in temperature, pulse and respiration.
• e. Congested mucous membranes
• f. Drinking small amounts of water frequently

• a. No specific diagnostic test available
• b. Blood results will show evidence of dehydration, renal compromise (elevation in BUN, urine is isosthenuric) and decreases in calcium and magnesium.

Fluids, control pain and evacuate toxin from the gastrointestinal tract.

Beetles show up in Texas usually after June. By wary of beetles if  grasshoppers are in abundance since the beetle larvae feed on grasshopper eggs. 

Meconium is the first fecal material a newborn foal normally excretes soon after parturition. It consists of digested cellular debris and is brown to black in color and is quite hard

Results from impaction of fecal pellets in the rectum or colon.

• Clinical signs: a. Clinical signs appear during the first 24 hours – vary from mild abdominal pain to colic. b. Foals will repeatedly attempt to defecate. c. Foals continue to nurse and remain afebrile.
• Diagnose: Based upon clinical signs or palpation of meconium at the anal sphincter

• a. Soapy enemas
• b. Mineral oil per os
• c. Analgesics to control the pain

Routine administration of enemas at birth

• 1. Physiological changes within the foal’s gastrointestinal tract.  This is the best reliable etiology at this point
• 2. Hormonal changes in the mare
• 3. Changes in milk composition
• 4. Over ingestment of milk by the foal

• 1. Foal is bright and alert
• 2. soft to watery feces
• 3. normal rectal temperature

Timing of clinical signs

• Diarrhea is often self limiting
• No treatment is necessary if foal remains bright and alert, continues to nurse and does not develop a fever.

• 1. Salmonellosis 
• 2. Escherichia Coli 
• 3. Clostridium perfringens (acute diarrhea, high mortality)
• 4. Rotavirus/Coronavirus

• 1. Salmonellosis
• 2. Escherichia Coli
• 3. Actinobacillus equuli
• 4. B- Hemolytic streptococci
• 5. Klebsiella spp 

• a. Fluids and electrolytes
• b. Nutritional supplementation
• c. Supportive care

• a. Ensure adequate colostral intake
• b. Keep environment clean

• Stress of disease
• Failure of passive transfer

• Laying on their back to relieve pressure off their stomach
• Grinding their teeth (bruxism)

• Tagament to decrease secretion
• Cimetidine (physical bandage for ulcer; works in acidic environments)

• Horse Bots
• Habronemiasis

• Etiology: Gasterophilus
• Clinical signs: Mild gastritis or no signs at all
• Treatment: Treat with botacide in Fall after the flies have disappeared

• Habronema muscae
• Habronema microstoma
• Drashia megastoma

Routine anthelmintic therapy

• Intravenous injections are given into a vein.
• Intradermal injections are administered into the skin.
• Subcutaneous injections are given underneath the skin.
• Intramuscular (IM) injections are given into muscle