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Owner complaints about animal: Restlessness, poor appetite. Inquire about duration of signs and progression
(clue to severity), fecal output (indicates obstruction), history of colic in this animal and diet.
Objective: Signs
Auscultate for bowel sounds in all four quadrants of the abdomen. Check mucous membranes and hydration
status. Examine feces for blood or mucus. Rectal exam should be done only by a veterinarian.
Mild: Animal seems uncomfortable, frequent urination, looking at flank, mild sweating.
Moderate: Increased heart and respiratory rates, restlessness (getting up and down), kicking at flank,
diminished stool output, increased sweating
Severe: Increased heart and respiratory rates, extreme anxiety and restlessness (rolling on the ground),
profuse sweating, muddy colored mucous membranes, signs of shock
REMEMBER: Clinical signs may not directly relate to actual severity of disease. Horses, as in humans,
have varying thresholds for pain and therefore the clinical signs may be misleading. Consult a veterinarian
(if available) for all colic cases.
Assessment:
Differential Diagnosis: Trauma to abdomen, gas, GI tract worm infection, pregnancy with/without
complications (ask owner about animal's mating history)
Plan:
Treatment
- Walk the horse. Walking may relieve gas and aid in the movement of obstructions or stool into colon and
out of the animal. It will also keep the horse from injury by keeping it up and moving. - Provide fresh clean water.
- Laxatives and wetting agents are useful. Administer orally or through a naso-gastric tube: mineral oil
2-4 liters every 12 hrs, bran mashes (mash food to soften it before giving to horse with sore gums), water.
Naso-gastric intubation should only be attempted by experienced personnel. - Analgesics may be given if signs warrant. However, they may mask a deteriorating condition so use
with caution and under veterinary supervision. Analgesics: Flunixin meglumine: 1.1 mg/kg every 12 hrs
IV, Xylazine: 0.1-1.0 mg/kg as necessary IM or IV, Butorphanol: 0.02-0.05 mg/kg IM or IV as necessary.
Owner Education
Manage the herd properly to reduce the likelihood of colic. Offer a high-roughage diet and elevate hay bins
to prevent sand impactions. Provide a good de-worming program that ensures pasture rotation and varying
de-wormers. Give plenty of fresh, clean water.
Vet Medicine: Animal Disease: Foot Rot in Caprines
MAJ Joseph Williamson, VC, USAIntroduction: Foot rot is a significant problem in sheep and goats, occurring most commonly on pastures
during times of persistent moisture. Susceptibility to the disease varies by species and environment. Morbidity
can be up to 75% within a flock, from either the primary or a secondary infection.
Subjective: Symptoms
Owner complaints about animals: slow weight gains or weight loss, reluctance to move about, fetid odors
emanating from the feet, lameness. Systemic signs may also be reported.
Objective: Signs