(B6) Common Non-infectious Disorders of the Alimentary Tract of Horses

what is GIT Ulcers (GIT Ulcers)

Erosion of the mucosal lining of the stomach

what causes it (6) (GIT Ulcers)

1. Fasting or infrequent nursing

2. Recumbency

3. Gastric mucosa is not full thickness

4. Increase abdominal pressure during exercise

5. Potential for delayed gastric emptying

6. Prolonged steroidal or NSAID use

define recumbancy in relation to GIT ulcers (GIT Ulcers)

exposure of squamous lining to stomach acid

clinical signs (9) (GIT Ulcers)

1. Teeth grinding

2. Excessive salivation

3. Decreased appetite

4. May have recurrent diarrhea

5. Lose weight

6. rough hair coat

7. Recurrent colic

8. May lay down after eating

9. Behavior changes

how to diagnose (4) (GIT Ulcers)

1. Gastroscopy of the stomach and upper duodenum

2. Physical exam

3. clinical signs

4. Occult blood in gastric contents or feces

define occult blood (GIT Ulcers)

hidden blood that can’t be seen with the naked eye

how to treat (3) (GIT Ulcers)

1. Change the feeding regime

2. Reduce HCl production

3. Protect the GIT lining

define colic (Colic)

A broad term meaning abdominal pain

Why horses are prone to colic (8) (Colic)

1. Horses can't vomit

2. Large amount of relatively undigested feed moving into the large intestine

3. Long mesentery of small intestines can twist relatively easily

4. Cecum is a blind sac

5. The sharp turns that the large colon makes at the sternal, diaphragmatic, and pelvic flexures

6. Narrow lumen at pelvic flexure

7. Narrowing of lumen where the large colon becomes the small colon

8. The large colon is not fixed

what causes it (5) (Colic)

1. Sudden dietary changes causing gas buildup in cecum and colon

2. Spasmodic hypermotility

3. Thromboembolic colic from large strongyles

4. Intestinal Accidents:

5. Impaction colic

define Spasmodic hypermotility (Colic)

abnormally rapid or excessive muscular contractions (spasms) within an organ

define Thromboembolic colic (Colic)

a severe form of abdominal pain in horses caused by a blood clot (thrombus) or an infected piece of clot (embolus) that breaks off and travels to block blood vessels supplying the intestines

what are some intestinal accidents that can cause colic (5) (Colic)

1. torsion of volvulus

2. intussusception

3. displacement

4. entrapment by ligament

5. evisceration following castration

define intussusception (Colic)

a serious medical condition where one segment of the intestine slides into an adjacent section

define evisceration (Colic)

the protrusion of organs outside the body cavity

clinical signs (12) (Colic)

1. Sweating

2. Restlessness

3. Stretching

4. Pawing

5. Rolling

6. Kicking at abdomen

7. Looking at flank

8. Lying down / getting up without shaking off

9. Attempts to urinate

10. Depression

11. May be grinding teeth (bruxism)

12. Signs of shock

what are the signs of shock (2) (Colic)

1. cold extremities

2. abnormal mucus membrane color

mild colic symptom checklist (HR, RR, TEMP, MM, CRT, GUT SOUNDS) (Colic)

1. HR : 40 - 60 bpm

2. RR : 20 - 30 rpm

3. TEMP : 37.5 - 38.0

4. MM : pale pink

5. CRT : 1 - 2 secs

6. GUT SOUNDS : normal or increased

moderate colic symptom checklist (HR, RR, TEMP, MM, CRT, GUT SOUNDS) (Colic)

1. HR : 60 - 80 bpm

2. RR : 30 - 40 rpm

3. TEMP : 37.5 - 38.0

4. MM : pink / dark red

5. CRT : 2 - 4 secs

6. GUT SOUNDS : decreased

severe colic symptom checklist (HR, RR, TEMP, MM, CRT, GUT SOUNDS) (Colic)

1. HR : 80+ bpm

2. RR : 40+ rpm

3. TEMP : 37.5- or 40+

4. MM : reddish / purple

5. CRT : 4+ secs

6. GUT SOUNDS : absent

how to diagnose (7) (Colic)

1. Physical exam

2. Auscultation for peristalsis

3. Rectal exam

4. Abdominal tap

5. Blood work – hematology, PCV, TP

6. Pass a stomach tube

7. Ultrasound abdomen

define peristalsis (Colic)

the automatic, wave-like contraction and relaxation of involuntary muscles that propels contents through tubular organs in your body

how to treat (6) (Colic)

1. Walk them

2. Anti-spasmodic

3. NSAIDS's

4. Surgery as soon as possible

5. Nasogastric tubing with water frequently

6. Mineral oil or magnesium sulfate to lubricate or breakup the impaction

how to prevent (5) (Colic)

1. Proper dental care

2. deworming

3. Good quality feed

4. Adequate water supply

5. Regular exercise

what causes it (6) ("choke")

1. Feed or foreign bodies

2. Hungry horse bolts dry food

3. poorly prepared beet pulp

4. horse not chewing properly

5. Trauma/infection in neck area

6. Tumors leads to stricture of the esophagus

clinical signs (9) ("choke")

1. Excess salivation

2. regurgitation

3. Frequent attempts to swallow

4. stretching neck out

5. Nasal discharge with food particles

6. Acute distress

7. acute coughing

8. acute gagging

9. Bulge in esophagus may be seen

avg MM ("choke")

1. normal

2. slightly pale

avg CRT ("choke")

normal

avg HR ("choke")

due to stress

avg RR ("choke")

increased

avg temp ("choke")

greater than 39

how to diagnose (3) ("choke")

1. physical exam

2. radiography

3. endoscopy

how to treat ("choke")

1. Endoscopy

2. manual extraction of the blockage

3. Spasmolytics

4. Sedation

5. Warm H2O lavage via stomach tube

6. Feed small quantities of soft feed for a few days following resolution

what does Spasmolytics do ("choke")

relax esophageal musculature

how to prevent (4) ("choke")

1. Slow down fast eaters

2. Moisten feed

3. Proper dental care

4. Remove potential foreign bodies from the environment

what is Esophageal Obstruction aka

choke

is it self-limiting (Foal Heat Diarrhea)

yes

what causes it (Foal Heat Diarrhea)

related to normal changes in intestinal microflora or the introduction of roughage to the diet

clinical signs (Foal Heat Diarrhea)

Transient, pasty diarrhea

how to treat (3) (Foal Heat Diarrhea)

1. none

2. Electrolyte fluid therapy orally

3. Protect anal area by cleaning, drying, and applying ointments to reduce scalding

how to prevent (Foal Heat Diarrhea)

none