It can be challenging to identify stress-related digestive issues in horses, but being aware of key indicators can help owners take timely action. Changes in behavior, body condition, respiratory movements, and common actions can provide clues. Consulting with a veterinarian for a comprehensive examination is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
How Can I Tell If My Horse Has Stress-Related Digestive Problems?
Identifying stress-related digestive problems in horses involves careful observation of their physical condition and behavior. Veterinarians use various diagnostic methods, including visual examination (inspection), applying pressure to tissues (palpation), listening to body sounds (auscultation), and recognizing characteristic odors.
What are the Key Signs of Digestive Issues in Horses?
Deviation from normal characteristics is a useful aid in diagnosing disease. A general inspection includes examination of appearance, behavior, body condition, respiratory movements, state of skin, coat, and abdomen, and various common actions.
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Changes in Appearance: Small size in a pig may result from retardation of growth, which is caused by hog-cholera virus.
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Changes in Behavior: Observation of the behavior of an animal is of value in diagnosing neurological diseases; e.g., muscle spasms occur in lockjaw (tetanus) in dogs, nervousness and convulsions in dogs with distemper, dullness in horses with equine viral encephalitis, and excitement in animals suffering from lead poisoning. Subtle behavioral changes may not be noticeable.
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Changes in Body Condition: The general condition of the body is of value in diagnosing diseases that cause excessive leanness (emaciation), including certain cancers, or other chronic diseases, such as a deficiency in the output of the adrenal glands or tuberculosis. Defective teeth also may point to malnutrition and result in emaciation.
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Changes in Respiratory Movements: The respiratory movements of an animal are important diagnostic criteria; breathing is rapid in young animals, in small animals, and in animals whose body temperature is higher than normal. Specific respiratory movements are characteristic of certain diseases—e.g., certain movements in horses with heaves (emphysema) or the abdominal breathing of animals suffering from painful lung diseases.
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Changes in Skin and Coat: The appearance of the skin and hair may indicate dehydration by lack of pliability and lustre; or the presence of parasites such as lice, mites, or fleas; or the presence of ringworm infections and allergic reactions by the skin changes they cause. The poisoning of sheep by molybdenum in their hay may be diagnosed by the loss of colour in the wool of black sheep.
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Changes in the Abdomen: Distension of the abdomen may indicate bloat in cattle or colic in horses.
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Changes in Common Actions: Abnormal activities may have special diagnostic meaning to the veterinarian. Straining during urination is associated with bladder stones; increased frequency of urination is associated with kidney disease (nephritis), bladder infections, and a disease of the pituitary gland (diabetes insipidus). Excessive salivation and grinding of teeth may be caused by an abnormality in the mouth. Coughing is associated with pneumonia. Some diseases cause postural changes: for example, a horse with tetanus may stand in a stiff manner. An abnormal gait in an animal made to move may furnish evidence as to the cause of a disease, as louping ill in sheep.
What Diagnostic Procedures Can a Vet Use?
A veterinarian must diagnose a disease based on examinations and tests, since they cannot interrogate the animal. Methods used in preparing a diagnosis include:
- Inspection – a visual examination of the animal.
- Palpation – the application of firm pressure with the fingers to tissues to determine characteristics such as abnormal shapes and possible tumors, the presence of pain, and tissue consistency.
- Percussion – the application of a short, sharp blow to a tissue to provoke an audible response from body parts directly beneath.
- Auscultation – the act of listening to sounds produced by the body during the performance of functions (e.g., breathing, intestinal movements).
- Smells – the recognition of characteristic odors associated with certain diseases.
- Miscellaneous diagnostic procedures, such as eye examinations, the collection of urine, and heart, esophageal, and stomach studies.
What Should I Tell the Vet About My Horse’s Condition?
A detailed case record is crucial for diagnosing and treating animal diseases. This record should include:
- Animal Description: Age, species, sex, and breed.
- Owner’s Report: A thorough account of observed symptoms and changes.
- Animal History: Relevant past health issues and treatments.
- Preliminary Examination: Initial observations of the animal’s condition.
- Clinical Findings: Results from examining body systems.
- Lab Results: Specific laboratory test outcomes.
- Diagnosis: Identification of the disease’s cause (etiology).
- Prognosis: Expected outlook for the animal.
- Treatment: Detailed treatment plan.
- Case Progress: Documentation of the animal’s response to treatment.
- Termination: Final outcome of the case.
- Autopsy: If performed, a post-mortem examination.
- Scientific References: Utilization of relevant scientific literature.
By recognizing these signs and working closely with a veterinarian, horse owners can better identify and manage stress-related digestive problems in their animals.
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