Siriporn Peansukmanee, DVM, MSc, PhD 2012

Equine Diagnostic Techniques

General examination
Observation Physical examination

Systemic examination
Ophthalmic examination Lameness examination Respiratory examination Colic examination Reproductive examination Neurological examination Cardiologic examination

Equine Diagnostic Techniques

Special techniques
Imaging diagnosis
Radiography Ultrasonography CT scan MRI

Endoscopy Arthroscopy Laboratory tests

Blood Urine Abdominal fluid Synovial fluid

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Common Problems in Horses

Colic Lameness Exercise intolerance Nasal discharge Coughing Respiratory noise Anemia Ataxia Sudden death
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Colic

Nasogastric intubation Rectal examination Abdominocentesis

Lameness
Lameness examination Radiography Ultrosonography Joint fluid analysis

Exercise intolerance
Lameness examination Endoscopic examination Blood test Slap test Neurological test

Nasal discharge
Lung percussion Endoscopic examination Radiography

Coughing
Larynx palpation Chest auscultation Endoscopic examination Transtracheal aspiration

Respiratory noise
Auscultation Endoscopic examination Radiography
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Anemia
Faecal examination Blood test Urinalysis Serology

Ataxia
Slap test Radiography Neurologic examination

Sudden death
Inspection History Necropsy

General and Physical examinations

Signalment predisposing factors History taking differential diagnosis Physical examination problem indentifying

Nasogastric Intubation
Size selection Restraint Diagnosis and Treatment purposes Gastric content analysis

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Abdominocentesis
Evaluation and prognosis for a colic horse Ventral midline 10 cm caudally from xiphoid cartilage Clear light yellow = normal (5) Blood stain = intestinal strangulation (2) Intestinal content = rupture of intestine(s) (6) Cloudy = abdominal abscesses

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Abdominocentesis

 Bone Fractures Foreign bodies Abnormal bony structures

Radiography
Restraint Protective equipment Supportive equipment Terminology Beam projections
Basic 4 DP, LM, DLPMO, DMPLO Flex LM Skyline Etc.

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Radiography

Interpretation

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Ultrasonography
Non-bony structure examination Limited efficiency to bony structure examination Musculoskeletal system Reproductive system Restraint Probe selection Skin preparation Additive equipment
Acoustic coupling gel standoff

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SDFT DDFT

ICL SUS

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Endoscopy
Real image Fiberoptic vs video endoscope Respiratory tract Upper alimentary tract Lower alimentary tract Reproductive tract Urinary tract Restraint Endoscope preparation Assistants Special techniques
Guttural pouch examination Slap test

After use care

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Laboratory tests
Why? What? How? Equine
High SAP High CPK PCV

Red count White count (Differential count) Blood chemistry Serology (immune responses) Urinalysis Faecal examination

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Red blood cell count

PCV, MCV, MCHC Anemia
Normochromic, normocytic anemia = blood loss Macrocytic anemia = folic acid deficiency Microcytic anemia = iron deficiency Post viral infection

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White blood cell count

Total WBC
Increasing = infection, stress, leukemia Decreasing = viral infection, acute septicaemia

Differential WBC
Lymphocytes Neutrophils infection Eosinophils Basophils - increasing = viral infection - decreasing = BM suppression - increasing (not usually occurs)= very acute - increasing = parasite infestation - increasing = grave prognosis

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Blood Chemistry
Blood urea - increasing = urinary diseases/ muscle loss Liver enzymes - SDH - AST Serum proteins - low albumin = liver/kidney abnormalities or GI loss Creatine Phospho Kinase
- Muscle damage

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Faecal examination
Similar to other species
Simple floatation Sedimentation technique

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Urinalysis
Routine in sport competition Blood urea increasing Note that normal horse urine is not clear

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Medical Treatment Surgical Treatment Physiotherapy

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Medical administration
Per oral
Paste Nasogastric intubation

Intramuscular injection Intravenous injection Subcutaneous injection Intraarticular injection Topical

Spray Ointment Drop
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Oral route

Intramuscular route

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Intravenous injection & catheterisation

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Subcutaneous route

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Ocular route (topical)

Intraarticular route