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Rectal Examination of the Horse (view source)
Revision as of 10:34, 27 May 2010
, 10:34, 27 May 2010Created page with 'Repeated rectal examinations are the cornerstone of colic diagnosis, as many large intestinal conditions can be definitively diagnosed by this method alone. It should be performe…'
Repeated rectal examinations are the cornerstone of colic diagnosis, as many large intestinal conditions can be definitively diagnosed by this method alone. It should be performed in every horse with abdominal pain, pyrexia of unknown origin,chronic diarrhea and weight loss. The rectal temperature must be taken prior to the examination. The amount and consistency of the feces in the rectum should be noted before the start of the examination. The process should be conducted in a consistent and systematic manner to avoid missing lesions. Care is required as there is a risk of irritation or rupture of the rectum during the examination. It is important to restrain the horse. This may be done in the stocks if they are available but horses of a good nature may be examined over the stable door with the use of hobbles or hay bales. The veterinarian should wear a plastic rectal glove with adequate lubrication before entering the rectum. The horse may strain and the veterinarian may feel peristaltic waves. It is important to be patient and not to use force to move the arm forward as this will increase the risk of a rectal tear. The feces must be evacuated from the rectum prior to the examination. If the horse continues to strain, lidocaine can be mixed with the lubricant to reduce th straining and provide analgesia. The examination should start with the pelvis structures and then move to the left cranial abdomen, proceeding clockwise.
====Normal Intraabdominal Structures Palpable in the Horse====
* Bladder
* Female reproductive tract
* Inguinal Rings
* Caudal border of the spleen
* Nephrosplenic ligament
* Caudal pole of the left kidney
* Mesenteric root
* Ventral cecal tenia (no tension should be palpable)
* Cecal base ( should be empty in the normal horse)
* Small colon containing fecal balls
* Pelvic flexure
The small intestine is not palpable except for the ileum in some horses or unless there is an abnormality. When examining the organs per rectum, it is important that the veterinarian notes the position, size, consistency, mobility, distension due to gas or ingesta, evidence of edema and tight mesenteric bands.
====Normal Intraabdominal Structures Palpable in the Horse====
* Bladder
* Female reproductive tract
* Inguinal Rings
* Caudal border of the spleen
* Nephrosplenic ligament
* Caudal pole of the left kidney
* Mesenteric root
* Ventral cecal tenia (no tension should be palpable)
* Cecal base ( should be empty in the normal horse)
* Small colon containing fecal balls
* Pelvic flexure
The small intestine is not palpable except for the ileum in some horses or unless there is an abnormality. When examining the organs per rectum, it is important that the veterinarian notes the position, size, consistency, mobility, distension due to gas or ingesta, evidence of edema and tight mesenteric bands.