Equine Medicine Flashcards

Flashcards covering equine musculoskeletal and nervous system diseases.

What are predisposing causes of musculoskeletal issues in professional animal athletes?

Overuse of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, trauma or injury, and joint integrity

What is the ideal slope range for the forelimb of a horse?

45-55°

What is the ideal slope range for the hindlimb of a horse?

50-59°

What is another name for the disease 'Ringbone'?

Distal and Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Disease

What is the difference between High Ringbone and Low Ringbone?

High Ringbone affects the PIP or pastern joint, while Low Ringbone affects the DIP or coffin joint.

What can cause Ringbone?

Arthritis of the pastern or coffin joints, trauma, high impact, and wear and tear.

What is a common NSAID used in equine medicine to treat Ringbone?

Phenylbutazone (2.2-2.5 mg/kg)

Besides medication, what are other treatment options for Ringbone?

Rest, hoof balance, shoeing, and reduced workload

What is another name for the condition 'Osselets'?

Metacarpo- (Metatarso-) Phalangeal Joint Disease

What are Osslets?

Inflammation in the fetlock joint, synovitis, and capsulitis.

What are the specific causes of Osselets?

Articular fractures, Osteochondrosis, Injury, trauma, and luxation.

What is the treatment plan for Osselets?

NSAIDs (Phenylbutazone 2.2 mg/kg), IA corticosteroids (Triamcinolone 3-6 mg), Rest, Hoof balance, and shoeing.

What is the definition of Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) / Osteoarthritis (OA) in horses?

Progressive physical and biochemical damage to articular cartilage and subchondral bone accompanied by non-septic inflammation of the synovial membrane and joint capsule

What are other clinical signs of DJD/OA?

Lameness, synovial effusion, and bony abnormalities

What are the causes of DJD/OA?

Abnormal forces (trauma), capsulitis/synovitis, poor healing, traumatic arthritis, poor nutrition, osteochondritis dissecans, and septic arthritis.

What are the 5 Cardinal Signs of Inflammation?

Rubor (redness), Calor (warmth), Tumor (swelling), Dolor (pain), and Functio laesa (loss of function).

What can result from increased stress in the cannon bone, especially with sesamoid bones?

Fracture

Which tendons are commonly affected in 'Bowed Tendon' (Tendonitis)?

SDFT or DDFT

What is the treatment for Tendonitis?

Stall-rest, cold packs, systemic anti-inflammatory agents, support or immobilization, and a regimen of increased exercise during rehabilitation.

What are other terms for Exertional Rhabdomyolysis?

Azoturia, Tying-up, Paralytic myoglobinuria, Monday morning disease, and Exertional myopathy

What are possible triggers for Exertional Rhabdomyolysis?

Horses with good BCS but irregular exercise pattern, faulty substrate metabolism, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, endocrine abnormalities, and electrolyte imbalances

What are common treatments for Exertional Rhabdomyolysis?

Complete rest, fluids, NSAIDs, and tranquilizers

What are the two types of chronic tying-up?

Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (RER) and Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)

What are the treatment aims for chronic tying-up?

Limit further muscle damage, reduce pain and anxiety, and restore fluid balance.

What are the nutritional management strategies of Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis

Provide sufficient forage, reduce dietary starch, add vegetable oil or stabilized rice bran, and increase slowly fermentable fiber.

In a normal foot, what is ideal about the villi?

More villi mean there are a lot of attachments

What is the purpose of the laminae in a horse's hoof?

The laminae is used to attach the hoof to the hoof wall.

What are the phases of Laminitis?

Developmental, Acute, and Chronic phases.

What are predisposing factors for Laminitis?

Carbohydrate overload, endotoxemia/sepsis/infection, and excessive unilateral weight bearing.

According to Obel Grading of Lameness, what indicates a grade 1?

To lift feet alternately and incessantly (treading). Lameness not evident at a walk but a short, stilted gait is seen at a trot

What are the types of clinical signs relating to laminitis?

Acute, subacute, refractory and chronic laminitis

What are the treatment goals for acute laminitis?

Reduce pain, reduce or prevent permanent laminar damage, and improve dermal capillary hemodynamics.

What is the cause of Tetanus?

Clostridium tetani

What is the Pathogenesis of Tetanus?

Blocks GABA & glycine compounds (which tell muscles to relax)

What are clinical signs of Tetanus?

Grimace face, Lockjaw (chronic disease), and Stiff legs – “rocking horse” stance

What is the difference between Tetanus Antitoxin and Tetanus Toxoid

Tetanus Antitoxin is given right after the infection occurred, while tetanus toxoid is given once the horse is stable or healthy enough to take a toxoid

What type of virus is rabies virus?

Lyssavirus

What are the two forms of Rabies?

Aggressive or Paralytic

What is the vector of Viral Encephalitis/Myelitis?

mosquitoes (Culex tarsalis)

What is the transmission of Viral Encephalitis/Myelitis?

mosquitoes (Culex tarsalis)

What is the DH of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis?

Opossum (Sarcocystis) and Unknown (Neospora)

What are ways to prevent Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis?

Ensure water and feed are not contaminated (by opossum)

What is the lifecyle of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis?

Sarcocystis neurona life cycle and Speculated Neospora hughesi life cycle

For previously vaccinated horses, what is the recommendation for the following: Tetanus, EEE/WEE, West Nile Virus, and Rabies?

Annual

What is EIA?

Equine Infectious Anemia

What is the cause of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)?

EIA virus

What is the diagnosis of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)?

Coggin’s test

What is a common impact of Sweeny

Polo ponies collision

What are the two types of Stringhalt?

Classical stringhalt and Australian stringhalt

How does the displacement of the patella effect the horse in Stifled?

If the patella is displaced outward, severe lameness results. If it is displaced inward, lameness if less serious and sudden movement may reposition it

What is the main cause of cocked ankles in horses?

contracted tendons