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| ==Treatment== | | ==Treatment== |
| | | |
− | Treatment may be attempted but consideration should be given before embarking on treatment of severely affected cases, as these carry a grave prognosis (e.g. recumbency, severe muscle spasms). Horses should receive as little external stimuli as possible, ideally by keeping them in a darkened, quiet stable. Administration of acetylpromazine may provide both sedation and a reduction in muscle spasm. The use of an intravenous catheter is recommended to further reduce external stimulation. Any obvious wounds should be thoroughly debrided and flushed using 1% hydrogen peroxide, and parenteral penicillin should be administered. Tetanus antitoxin may be adminstered intravenously at the onset of clinical signs. | + | Treatment may be attempted but before embarking on treatment of severely affected cases, as these carry a grave prognosis (e.g. recumbency, severe muscle spasms). Horses should receive as little external stimuli as possible, ideally by keeping them in a darkened, quiet stable. Administration of acetylpromazine may provide both sedation and a reduction in muscle spasm. The use of an intravenous catheter is recommended to further reduce external stimulation. Any obvious wounds should be thoroughly debrided and flushed using 1% hydrogen peroxide, and parenteral penicillin should be administered. Tetanus antitoxin may be adminstered intravenously at the onset of clinical signs. |
| | | |
| ** Surgical removal of dead and infected tissue from the wound. | | ** Surgical removal of dead and infected tissue from the wound. |
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| *** Treatment with metronidazole decreases the number of bacteria but has no effect on the bacterial toxin. | | *** Treatment with metronidazole decreases the number of bacteria but has no effect on the bacterial toxin. |
| *** Metronidazole is particularly active against anaerobic bacteria, and so is a good choice for use against [[Clostridium tetani|''C. tetani'']] | | *** Metronidazole is particularly active against anaerobic bacteria, and so is a good choice for use against [[Clostridium tetani|''C. tetani'']] |
− | ** Penicillin
| |
− | *** Penicillin is becoming a less favoured treatment for tetanus, since there is a theoretical risk of increased spasms.
| |
| * Muscle relaxants | | * Muscle relaxants |
| ** Diazepam | | ** Diazepam |
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| * Mair, T., Love, S., Schumacher, J. and Watson, E. (1998) '''Equine Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction''' ''WB Saunders Company Ltd'' | | * Mair, T., Love, S., Schumacher, J. and Watson, E. (1998) '''Equine Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction''' ''WB Saunders Company Ltd'' |
| | | |
− | * Knottenbelt, D.C. '''A Handbook of Equine Medicine for Final Year Students''' ''Liverpool University'' | + | * Knottenbelt, D.C. '''A Handbook of Equine Medicine for Final Year Students''' ''University of Liverpool'' |
| + | |
| + | * Pearce, O. (1994) '''Treatment of Equine Tetanus''' ''In Practice'' November 1994 pp 322-325. |
| + | |
| [[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]] | | [[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]] |
| [[Category:To_Do_-_SophieIgnarski]] | | [[Category:To_Do_-_SophieIgnarski]] |