Horses 🐴
Sign Illness/Disease Specific disease Desc. Clinical Signs Diagnosis Treatment
Colic Strangulating Volvulus/torsion Twisting on mesenteric axis / Ischaemia, Transrectal palpation Nasogastric tube
(Ischaemic) long axis (should do in all colic
Might do: cases)
Incarceration Entrapment of a section in a Ultrasound
constricted space (hernia) → Abdominocentesis Refer
obstruction Blood analysis
Surgical
Intussusception Telescoping of one segment of
the intestine into another
Thrombotic: Blot clots forming in intestinal
DIC, vessel
coagulopathy
Non- Impaction Blockage → obstruction + Inflammation ^^ Nasogastric Tube
Strangulating (ingesta or distension Medical treatment
ascarids) Abdominal distension
(gas, fluid, ingesta Unless non-resolving =
Displacement Movement of a section of the build up) surgery
intestine to an abnormal
location → can cause Refer most SI lesions →
obstruction or compro bs likely require surgery or
intensive medical
Enteritis Inflam. Of SI → increased treatment
permeability, fluid loss +
impaired absorption
Colitis Inflam. Of LI → diarrhea, fluid
loss, disruption of microbiome
Typhlitis Inflam of caecum → distension
+ pain + indigestion
1
, Peritonitis Inflam of peritoneum due to
infection or rupture →
systemic illness
Spasmodic Spasms of intestinal smooth
muscle → transient colic
Diarrhea Primary Foal Heat Mild, short-term diarrhea watery/semi-formed Self-limiting
diarrhea Affect foals 4-14 days old. not smelly diarrhea
Occurs when mother goes
through the first oestrus. Foals alert, active,
normal temp.
Rotavirus Very contagious - primary Depression, anorexia Fecal electron Fatal if untreated in
cause of diarrhea in foals. Can Profuse, watery, microscopy very young foals
lead to serious dehydration smelly diarrhea ELISA Symptomatic-
RT-PCR supportive care - fluids
Attack villi - villous atrophy
Broad spectrum
antimicrobials if
septicaemia
Salmonellosis Bacterial infection Diarrhea fever, colic, Fecal PCR Oral or parenteral
septicemia (can) Culture antibiotics in severe
Some horses cases
asymptomatic carrier
IV fluids
Clostridiosis Bacteria Bloody Diarrhea, Fecal culture + Antibiotics, NSAIDs,
Clostridium difficile or recumbency, severe demonstration of (Serum in immune naive
perfringens dehydration bacterial toxin (ELISA foals)
toxin assay)
2
, Equine (adult horses) Fever, depression, PCR Supportive care
Coronavirus colic, diarrhea Most adults recover
within 2 weeks
Secondary Peritonitis Inflammation or infection of Fever, depression, Abdominocentesis
peritoneum colic, weight loss
Can lead to sepsis
Stress-induced Transport, surgery,
overcrowding, exhaustion,
hospitalisation, high
temperatures
Medications NSAIDs
Antimicrobials
Chronic GI Larval Cyathostominosis Encysted L3 larvae in the colon Chronic weight loss Demonstration of Larvicide
disease → inflammation Chronic diarrhea larvae in feces - Fenbendazole
- Moxidectin
CS caused by sudden eruption History - poor +- corticosteroids
of many strongyle larvae in the deworming
intestinal wall lining
US thick intestinal walls
Cause dark red-brown nodules
multifocal lesion Serological test (IgG
detection)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Can be divided into Weight loss US Demonstration of Corticosteroids
● Granulomatous thickened intestine wall (prednisolone,
enteritis Chronic diarrhea dexamethasone)
3
Sign Illness/Disease Specific disease Desc. Clinical Signs Diagnosis Treatment
Colic Strangulating Volvulus/torsion Twisting on mesenteric axis / Ischaemia, Transrectal palpation Nasogastric tube
(Ischaemic) long axis (should do in all colic
Might do: cases)
Incarceration Entrapment of a section in a Ultrasound
constricted space (hernia) → Abdominocentesis Refer
obstruction Blood analysis
Surgical
Intussusception Telescoping of one segment of
the intestine into another
Thrombotic: Blot clots forming in intestinal
DIC, vessel
coagulopathy
Non- Impaction Blockage → obstruction + Inflammation ^^ Nasogastric Tube
Strangulating (ingesta or distension Medical treatment
ascarids) Abdominal distension
(gas, fluid, ingesta Unless non-resolving =
Displacement Movement of a section of the build up) surgery
intestine to an abnormal
location → can cause Refer most SI lesions →
obstruction or compro bs likely require surgery or
intensive medical
Enteritis Inflam. Of SI → increased treatment
permeability, fluid loss +
impaired absorption
Colitis Inflam. Of LI → diarrhea, fluid
loss, disruption of microbiome
Typhlitis Inflam of caecum → distension
+ pain + indigestion
1
, Peritonitis Inflam of peritoneum due to
infection or rupture →
systemic illness
Spasmodic Spasms of intestinal smooth
muscle → transient colic
Diarrhea Primary Foal Heat Mild, short-term diarrhea watery/semi-formed Self-limiting
diarrhea Affect foals 4-14 days old. not smelly diarrhea
Occurs when mother goes
through the first oestrus. Foals alert, active,
normal temp.
Rotavirus Very contagious - primary Depression, anorexia Fecal electron Fatal if untreated in
cause of diarrhea in foals. Can Profuse, watery, microscopy very young foals
lead to serious dehydration smelly diarrhea ELISA Symptomatic-
RT-PCR supportive care - fluids
Attack villi - villous atrophy
Broad spectrum
antimicrobials if
septicaemia
Salmonellosis Bacterial infection Diarrhea fever, colic, Fecal PCR Oral or parenteral
septicemia (can) Culture antibiotics in severe
Some horses cases
asymptomatic carrier
IV fluids
Clostridiosis Bacteria Bloody Diarrhea, Fecal culture + Antibiotics, NSAIDs,
Clostridium difficile or recumbency, severe demonstration of (Serum in immune naive
perfringens dehydration bacterial toxin (ELISA foals)
toxin assay)
2
, Equine (adult horses) Fever, depression, PCR Supportive care
Coronavirus colic, diarrhea Most adults recover
within 2 weeks
Secondary Peritonitis Inflammation or infection of Fever, depression, Abdominocentesis
peritoneum colic, weight loss
Can lead to sepsis
Stress-induced Transport, surgery,
overcrowding, exhaustion,
hospitalisation, high
temperatures
Medications NSAIDs
Antimicrobials
Chronic GI Larval Cyathostominosis Encysted L3 larvae in the colon Chronic weight loss Demonstration of Larvicide
disease → inflammation Chronic diarrhea larvae in feces - Fenbendazole
- Moxidectin
CS caused by sudden eruption History - poor +- corticosteroids
of many strongyle larvae in the deworming
intestinal wall lining
US thick intestinal walls
Cause dark red-brown nodules
multifocal lesion Serological test (IgG
detection)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Can be divided into Weight loss US Demonstration of Corticosteroids
● Granulomatous thickened intestine wall (prednisolone,
enteritis Chronic diarrhea dexamethasone)
3
