San Luis Rey Equine Hospital


What causes Colic?	There is no simple cause of colic. Also there are many types of colic. So this is not a simple question with a simple answer. We prefer to think of things that are risk factors to developing colic. These factors include: • Changes in feed (quantity or quality) • Inadequate water consumption • Change in activity level • Stress (transportation, illness) • History of previous colic • Changes in weather • Parasites
How can I prevent Colic?	The list above contains many management factors and in addressing them, colic can be minimized. Good quality feed on a regular feeding schedule with adequate water intake is a good place to start. Sufficient and regular exercise is important to maintaining good health and to minimize colic. Deworming and dentistry are also part of prevention. Even with the best of care and management, horses will suffer from colic. Anywhere for 4-10% of horses will colic in a year and from 2-4% of those cases will develop colic that is severe enough to require colic surgery.
What if my horse needs colic surgery to save his/her life?	When your horse does not respond to medical therapy and when the condition continues to deteriorate, exploratory surgery may be needed to save the horse's life. The surgery is exploratory since we rarely know what we will encounter. Some conditions, displaced colons and obstinate impactions, respond well to evacuation of the bowel and replacement of the intestine. Horses obstructed with stones (enteroliths) have a very good prognosis. Other conditions where the bowel is twisted and the blood supply to the intestine is damaged have a poorer prognosis. If intestine has to be removed and the ends reattached, the surgery can be complex. All is not bad, however. Approximately 80% of the colic surgeries at SLREH are discharged and return home. It has been stated that 90% of colic surgeries that recover will return to their former use.
I've been told my horse has OCD; what is that & what can be done?	OCD stands for Osteochondritis Dissecans and the term has evolved to include a number of developmental problems in the bones and joints of young horses. The problem basically is a defect in the junction between growing cartilage and bone. The results can be a bone cyst, abnormal joint cartilage, or a loose fragment of bone and cartilage in a joint. These act as an irritant in the joint and can lead to joint inflammation and lameness. These lesions can be seen in a wide variety of joints; the joints most commonly affected are the hocks, stifles, fetlocks, shoulders, coffin joints, and even joints in the neck. These developmental problems do not heal on their own and often surgical removal of the abnormal tissue is necessary for the horse to be an athlete. Commonly an arthroscope is placed in the affected joint(s) to aid in removal of the damaged bone and cartilage. With the irritating tissue removed, the joint can heal and often not be a clinical problem. The prognosis for soundness with an OCD depends on which joint is involved and how large the defect is. A good prognosis is given for the OCD’s of the large joint in the hock, fragments in the fetlocks, and smaller lesions of the stifles. Although there are many surgical successes for OCD of the shoulder, the prognosis for soundness is diminished in this joint.
How can OCD be controlled?	Controlled is the important term here because this condition cannot be eliminated even with “perfect” management. A lot of factors contribute to OCD development. Those factors often considered are: fast growing individuals or breeds, nutritional status, exercise, or genetic predisposition. Nutrition for a growing horse is very vital but we see more OCD lesions in horses that are overfed compared to those that are not. Evidence is gaining that a high carbohydrate diet can adversely affect hormones that control bone growth. The diet needs to be balanced in quantity and quality. The calcium/phosphorous ratios are crucial, the protein levels and the energy levels also need to be balanced. We know that the trace minerals (copper, manganese, zinc) mist be sufficient and in proper ratios for the bones to develop well. Vitamin A and D levels must be adequate but not in excess. Luckily, today there are many commercial feed supplements that can proved a balanced diet to growing horses. Ideally these supplements should balance the hay and pasture that is fed as much of the nutrition comes from thses sources. The ideal situation is to analyze the hay and balance it with a supplement.
How can I find out more about wobblers, myelograms & possible treatments?	"Wobblers" are horses that have problems with coordination; balance, and abnormal gaits. Please contact Dr. Hirsh to find out more about clinical signs, differential diagnosis myelograms, testing of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) and possible treatments. .
What is involved in the Treadmill test?	Treadmill testing is done for poor performance due to abnormal respiratory function, cardiac and muscle abnormalities. It is a three day process, with the first two days teaching the patient to adapt to the treadmill and be able to gallop at top speeds. With most patients they can gallop freely by the third day. The treadmill test consists of obtaining samples for blood oxygen from the facial artery at 1,2,3, and 4 minutes while the patient is galloping. The heart rate is also recorded during this time period. At the completion of this period a flexible endoscope is passed up the nostril and positioned to visualize the larynx (voice box). The patient is then galloped again and the image of the larynx is visualized and recorded. One hour after the test is completed a tracheal wash is performed to check on the character of the cells which helps distinguish infections from allergies. Six hours after the test a blood sample is collected to check for increase in the muscle enzymes.