Equine Medicine Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for equine medicine review.

Quidding

Dropping partially chewed food due to dental disease.

Choke (in horses)

Poor dentition, dry feed, or bolting food.

Coastal/Bermuda hay

Associated with ileal impaction.

Heaves

Recurrent airway obstruction (equine asthma).

Strangles (Streptococcus equi equi)

Causes abscessed lymph nodes.

Common neurologic sign of EHV-1

Ataxia, urinary incontinence, decreased tail tone.

West Nile Virus

Causes muscle fasciculations and is spread by mosquitoes.

Key clinical sign of tetanus in horses

Prolapsed third eyelid, stiff gait, "sawhorse" stance.

"Monday Morning Disease"

Exertional rhabdomyolysis.

First emergency step for a suspected fracture

Splint the limb before transport.

Treatment for a hoof abscess

Paring the sole and/or soaking the foot.

PPID (Cushing's Disease)

Causes a long, curly hair coat in old horses.

4 core vaccines for horses in North America

Tetanus, EEE/WEE, Rabies, West Nile Virus.

"Swamp Fever"

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA).

Coggins test

Used for EIA.

Sarcoid

A common skin tumor in horses, associated with bovine papillomavirus.

Treatment for paraphimosis

Emergency veterinary care to prevent permanent damage.

Dystocia

Difficult or abnormal birth.

Causes pastern dermatitis ("scratches")

Moisture, mud, bacteria, and/or mites.

Risk of a wound near a joint

Septic arthritis.

What is the most common sign of lice infestation in horses?

Alopecia from rubbing.

Can equine lice infect humans or dogs?

No — they are species-specific.

What condition is also called "scratches" or "greasy heel"?

Pastern Dermatitis.

What skin tumor is most commonly found in gray horses?

melanoma

What skin condition in horses is zoonotic?

Ringworm (Dermatophytosis).

What is the purpose of a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE)?

To assess fertility of mares or stallions.

Which virus can cause abortions in mares?

Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

What is paraphimosis?

Persistent protrusion of the penis — a medical emergency.

Define dystocia.

Difficult or abnormal birth.

What surgical complication can occur after improper castration?

Evisceration or infection.

How should a wound near a joint be treated?

As an emergency — risk of septic arthritis.

What is the first step in wound assessment?

Determine joint involvement or deep penetration.

Are horses susceptible to tetanus from wounds?

Yes — they are highly susceptible.

What is the most important vaccine to update after a wound?

Tetanus toxoid.

What is the most important first step in evaluating a newborn foal?

Perform a complete physical exam.

What condition in foals is also known as “navel ill”?

Omphalophlebitis (infection of the umbilical remnants).

What condition in foals is referred to as “joint ill”?

Septic arthritis or physitis.

What causes meconium impaction in foals?

Failure to pass the first feces (meconium), often seen in colts.

What clinical signs might indicate meconium impaction?

Straining to defecate, tail flagging, colic symptoms.

What is a key sign of pneumonia in foals?

Fever, nasal discharge, increased respiratory effort.

What are common causes of diarrhea in foals?

Foal heat diarrhea, rotavirus, Clostridium, Salmonella.

What condition is characterized by premature birth, weak tendons, and silky hair coat?

Dysmaturity or prematurity.

What limb deformity involves backward or forward joint deviation (e.g., contracted tendons)?

Flexural limb deformities.

What limb deformity involves inward or outward angling of the limb?

Angular limb deformities.

What test is used to confirm adequate passive transfer in foals?

IgG blood test (usually snap or ELISA test).

What is the treatment if a foal fails passive transfer?

IV or plasma transfusion.

What is the term for lifting the head when the lame forelimb strikes the ground?

Head nod — “down on sound.”

What movement is seen with hind limb lameness?

Hip hike or hip drop on the affected side.

What scale is commonly used to grade lameness in horses?

AAEP lameness scale (0–5).

What does a grade 5/5 lameness mean?

The horse is non-weight bearing or unable to move.

What tool is used to test for pain in the hoof?

Hoof testers.

What is the purpose of flexion tests during a lameness exam?

To localize pain and exacerbate subtle lameness.

What is the most commonly affected joint in navicular disease?

Distal interphalangeal (coffin) joint region.

What are classic signs of navicular disease?

Bilateral forelimb lameness, long toe–low heel conformation, short-strided gait.

What type of arthritis is commonly seen in older or overworked horses?

Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD or OA).

What is the treatment for osteoarthritis?

Intra-articular corticosteroids, systemic NSAIDs, supportive management.

What developmental orthopedic disease causes joint effusion and lameness in young horses?

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).

What condition presents with hard, bony swellings on the medial aspect of the cannon bone?

Splints.

What condition causes acute, severe lameness and involves inflammation of the hoof laminae?

Laminitis.

What conformation can predispose horses to navicular disease?

Long toe–low heel.

What is the most common cause of colic in horses?

Large colon impaction.

What are two key diagnostics during a colic workup?

Rectal exam and nasogastric intubation.

What is a common cause of strangulating obstruction in older horses?

Pedunculated lipoma.

What is the significance of reflux in a colic case?

Suggests small intestinal obstruction or ileus.

What diagnostic fluid is obtained during abdominocentesis?

Peritoneal fluid.

What color peritoneal fluid suggests compromised bowel?

Red or serosanguinous (due to leakage of blood/proteins).

What is enterolithiasis and where does it typically occur?

Stone formation in the large colon, often in the right dorsal colon.

What is the common cause of gastric ulcers in performance horse

Stress, intermittent feeding, and high-concentrate diets.

What is the first-line treatment for equine gastric ulcers

Omeprazole (proton pump inhibitor).

What is the name of the condition where a horse swallows something and food backs up in the esophagus?

choke

What’s a key clinical sign of choke (not to be confused with airway obstruction)?

Nasal discharge with food material.

What does EIPH stand for?

Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage.

What is a clinical sign of EIPH?

Epistaxis (bleeding from the nostrils) after intense exercise

What is the most common cause of respiratory noise during exercise?

Laryngeal hemiplegia (aka "roaring").

What is the emergency airway procedure for a horse with upper airway obstruction?

Tracheotomy

What disease is associated with retropharyngeal abscesses and nasal discharge?

strangles

What is the treatment for equine asthma (heaves)?

Environmental management, bronchodilators, corticosteroids.

What diagnostic tool is used to evaluate lower airway inflammation?

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or tracheal wash.

What is guttural pouch mycosis and why is it dangerous?

Fungal infection of the guttural pouch that can erode arteries and cause fatal hemorrhage.

What is the causative agent of strangles?

Streptococcus equi equi.

What are 3 clinical signs of viral equine influenza?

Fever, dry cough, nasal discharge.