Changes

* Skin Turgor, Mucous membrane color and moisture, Capillary refil time (CRT)

* Skin Turgor, Mucous membrane color and moisture, Capillary refil time (CRT)

* Presence of digital pulses

* Presence of digital pulses

=====Attitude and External Appearance=====

=====Attitude and External Appearance=====

Mucous membrane colour and moisture and capillary refil time (CRT) can be assessed to appreciate the severity of haemodynamic compromise.A reduced skin tent indicates dehydration. The mucous membranes change from pink and moist to red and dry as the circulating blood volume decreases. Reddening of the mucous membranes indicates haemoconcentration and worsens as the patient goes into shock. Reddening reflects worse prognosis, and cyanotic membranes indicate a very poor chance of a positive outcome as it it indicates that the horse is in endotoxic shock. A reduced skin tent indicates dehydration.  

Mucous membrane colour and moisture and capillary refil time (CRT) can be assessed to appreciate the severity of haemodynamic compromise.A reduced skin tent indicates dehydration. The mucous membranes change from pink and moist to red and dry as the circulating blood volume decreases. Reddening of the mucous membranes indicates haemoconcentration and worsens as the patient goes into shock. Reddening reflects worse prognosis, and cyanotic membranes indicate a very poor chance of a positive outcome as it it indicates that the horse is in endotoxic shock. A reduced skin tent indicates dehydration.  

=====Auscultation=====

===Auscultation===

[[Colic Auscultation|Auscultation]] of the abdomen for intestinal borborygmi, usually performed in a four quadrant approach, can be a useful tool.  Increased borborygmi are not usually associated with major changes, and may be indicative of spasmodic colic, or impending diarrhea. Increased borborygmi can be found early on in cases of enteritis, colitis and intestinal obstruction. Later in the progression of the disease there is decreased borborygmi due to the pain and inflammation associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Decreased borborygmi, or a sustained absence, may be suggestive of serious and potentially irreversible changes to the intestine.  Trapped gas (tympany), particularly in the caecum and colon, can often be heard as a high pitched "pinging" during concurrent auscultation and percussion of the right (caecal) and left (colonic) flanks. Auscultation of the ventral abdomen over a 5 minute period can also be useful in regions where sand impaction is common. Auscultation reveals a sound similar to that of an ocean wave in these patients.

[[Colic Auscultation|Auscultation]] of the abdomen for intestinal borborygmi, usually performed in a four quadrant approach, can be a useful tool.  Increased borborygmi are not usually associated with major changes, and may be indicative of spasmodic colic, or impending diarrhea. Increased borborygmi can be found early on in cases of enteritis, colitis and intestinal obstruction. Later in the progression of the disease there is decreased borborygmi due to the pain and inflammation associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Decreased borborygmi, or a sustained absence, may be suggestive of serious and potentially irreversible changes to the intestine.  Trapped gas (tympany), particularly in the caecum and colon, can often be heard as a high pitched "pinging" during concurrent auscultation and percussion of the right (caecal) and left (colonic) flanks. Auscultation of the ventral abdomen over a 5 minute period can also be useful in regions where sand impaction is common. Auscultation reveals a sound similar to that of an ocean wave in these patients.

===Rectal Examination===

===Rectal Examination===

Sequential [[Rectal Examination of the Horse|rectal examinations]] are the cornerstone of colic diagnosis, as many large intestinal conditions can be definitively diagnosed by this method alone. Other non-specific findings, such as dilated small intestinal loops, may also be detected, and the rectal examination can play a major part in determining the severity of the disease and if surgery is necessary.  

Sequential [[Rectal Examination of the Horse|rectal examinations]] are the cornerstone of colic diagnosis, as many large intestinal conditions can be definitively diagnosed by this method alone. Rectal examination is invaluable in the diagnosis of medical problems such as primary impactions and spasmodic colic, and also in determining the severity of the disease and if surgery is necessary. Many subtle changes can be detected before they become apparent clinically or in the peritoneal fluid. A thorough rectal examination is vital for the early diagnosis and referral of surgical cases which improves the prognosis and post operative survival. 

=====Abnormal Rectal Examination Findings=====

=====Abnormal Rectal Examination Findings=====