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→Attitude and External Appearance
=====Attitude and External Appearance=====
=====Attitude and External Appearance=====
It is important to assess the degree of pain. It is best do keep the patient in a quiet environment to fully assess them. If the owner or trainer of the horse has administered any treatments then the patients status may not be a true reflection of the clinical condition. If the horse is in severe, unrelenting pain and it is difficult to assess it safely, it is advisable to administer some analgesics prior to the examination.
It is important to assess the degree of pain. It is best do keep the patient in a quiet environment to fully assess them. If the owner or trainer of the horse has administered any treatments then the patients status may not be a true reflection of the clinical condition. If the horse is in severe, unrelenting pain and it is difficult to assess it safely, it is advisable to administer some analgesics, sedation and butyl-scopolamine prior to the examination. It is useful to get the heart rate prior to the administration of these medications due to their transient effects on the resting heart rate.
A horse with severe pain that is unresponsive to analgesics warrants going to surgery as soon as possible if it is a case of a strangulating obstruction. Multiple abrasions around the head and periorbital area indicate that the horse is experiencing severe pain. The duration of clinical signs is important to note as once the strangulated portion of intestine degenerates to a certain point, the pain will subside but the horse becomes increasingly depressed.
A horse with severe pain that is unresponsive to analgesics warrants going to surgery as soon as possible if it is a case of a strangulating obstruction. Multiple abrasions around the head and periorbital area indicate that the horse is experiencing severe pain. The duration of clinical signs is important to note as once the strangulated portion of intestine degenerates to a certain point, the pain will subside but the horse becomes increasingly depressed.
A depressed horse that is pyrexic and displaying signs of moderate abdominal pain may indicate an inflammatory condition such as an enteritis, colitis of peritonitis.
A depressed horse that is pyrexic and displaying signs of moderate abdominal pain may indicate an inflammatory condition such as an enteritis, colitis of peritonitis.
The examination should also include the mouth for the presence of malocclusion, dental abnormalities, damage to the lips and gums, nasal discharge and excessive salivation. The abdominal contour should be examined for any swellings or recent enlargements which could indicate edema or umbilical, abdominal or scrotal herniations.
The examination should also include the mouth for the presence of malocclusion, dental abnormalities, damage to the lips and gums, nasal discharge and excessive salivation. The abdominal contour should be examined for any swellings or recent enlargements which could indicate edema or umbilical, abdominal or scrotal herniations.
=====Abdominal Distension=====
=====Abdominal Distension=====