Equine Diarrhea: Diagnosis and Causes

A horse presents with acute diarrhea. Based on the provided differentials, which of the following is LEAST likely to be the primary cause?

Which of the following infectious agents is NOT directly listed as a differential diagnosis for diarrhea in large animals in this material?

A horse is diagnosed with colitis secondary to antibiotic use. Which of the following best describes this condition?

Considering the provided differential diagnoses, what is a primary differentiating factor between acute and chronic diarrhea in adult horses?

Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to be associated with chronic diarrhea in an adult horse?

A horse presents with signs of colic and acute diarrhea after consuming a large amount of grain. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the diarrhea, based on the provided information?

You suspect a horse has a non-infectious cause of chronic diarrhea. Which of the following diagnostic tests would be LEAST helpful in determining the underlying cause, based on the provided information?

A horse exhibits acute diarrhea and signs of systemic illness. Which of the following differentials would warrant immediate isolation of the affected animal?

A horse presents with acute, bloody diarrhea following antimicrobial therapy. Clostridium perfringens or Clostridium difficile are suspected. Which diagnostic approach would be MOST appropriate to support a diagnosis of clostridiosis?

Clostridium perfringens is considered a normal inhabitant of the equine gut. What is the primary reason that it can still cause disease?

Which of the following scenarios would MOST likely predispose a horse to an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile or Clostridium perfringens in the intestinal tract?

A veterinarian performs a necropsy on a horse that died suddenly after exhibiting signs of severe colitis. Which finding would be MOST suggestive of Clostridium-associated disease?

Why is fecal culture alone insufficient for diagnosing a Clostridium perfringens infection in horses?

How do the toxins produced by Clostridium difficile primarily cause disease in horses?

Which factor makes horses particularly vulnerable to Clostridium-associated diarrhea compared to other animals?

A horse owner is concerned about preventing Clostridiosis on their farm. What is the most important recommendation you can give them, based on the information provided?

Which of the following plants is NOT typically associated with toxicity in horses?

A horse with chronic diarrhea is suspected of having a cyathostome infection. Which clinical sign is LEAST likely to be associated with this condition?

Why might fecal egg counts be an unreliable diagnostic tool for cyathostome infections in horses with chronic diarrhea?

What is the most significant risk associated with sudden mass emergence of encysted cyathostome larvae in a horse's gut?

A horse with a history of regular deworming presents with chronic diarrhea and weight loss. How does this anthelmintic history influence the diagnosis of cyathostomiasis?

A horse is diagnosed with cyathostomiasis and treated with an anthelmintic. What additional management practice is most important for long-term control of the infection?

In what season are larvae most likely to emerge from the mucosa in horses in the northern hemisphere?

What is the general prognosis for horses diagnosed with cyathostome infections, assuming appropriate treatment and management?

Which of the following mechanisms primarily contributes to NSAID-induced mucosal ulceration in the equine gastrointestinal tract?

A horse presents with a history of phenylbutazone use, decreased albumin levels, and ventral edema. Which of the following conditions is most likely?

A horse with chronic NSAID-induced colitis is suspected of having a stricture in the right dorsal colon. Which clinical sign would most likely support this suspicion?

Which diagnostic finding would be most supportive of a diagnosis of NSAID-induced right dorsal colitis in a horse?

A horse is being evaluated for possible NSAID-induced kidney injury. Which of the following findings on a urinalysis or renal ultrasonography would be most consistent with this condition?

When diagnosing NSAID-induced colitis, it is most important to:

Which of the following is the most important consideration when determining the prognosis for a horse with NSAID-induced colitis?

Why might a horse with focal right dorsal colitis not initially present with diarrhea?

A horse presents with colic, enteritis, and laminitis a day after unexpectedly gaining access to a large quantity of grain. Which of the following is the MOST likely underlying cause?

What is the primary reason laminitis commonly occurs as a consequence of grain overload in horses?

A horse shows clinical signs of colic and mild diarrhea. Upon rectal palpation, a small colon impaction is detected. What is the significance of testing this horse for Salmonella?

Which of the following is the MOST critical preventative measure to advise horse owners to avoid grain overload?

A few minutes after a routine vaccination, a horse begins to exhibit signs of mild colic and diarrhea. What is the MOST likely cause of these clinical signs?

When evaluating a horse presenting with colic and colitis, what diagnostic step is crucial to rule out a common cause of these signs?

A horse is diagnosed with grain overload. What factor is MOST indicative of a poorer prognosis?

In cases of impactions accompanied by diarrhea, what is the primary diagnostic challenge?

Which clinical sign is most commonly observed in horses diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

Hypoproteinemia and ventral edema are potential clinical findings in horses with IBD. Which form of IBD is least likely to present with these signs?

A horse with IBD is suspected to have a partial intestinal obstruction. Which form of IBD is most likely associated with this complication?

A horse presents with chronic weight loss, and IBD is suspected. An oral absorption test using glucose is performed. Which post-administration blood glucose result would support a diagnosis of malabsorption?

Which diagnostic method offers the highest sensitivity for confirming a diagnosis of IBD in horses?

What is the primary limitation of obtaining duodenal biopsies via endoscopy for diagnosing IBD in horses?

Which statement best describes the overall prognosis for horses diagnosed with IBD?

Which form of IBD generally carries the most favorable prognosis in horses?

A horse is suspected of having IBD. After a 12-hour fast, a baseline blood sample is collected, and 1 g/kg of D-xylose is administered via nasogastric tube. Blood samples are then collected every 30 minutes for 2 hours. What is the purpose of this test?

Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses?

Which of the following is a potential cause or association with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses?

A horse with MEED is most likely to present with which additional clinical sign, besides weight loss?

The subcategories of IBD in horses are primarily differentiated based on what characteristic?

What is the primary reason diarrhea is not a common clinical sign in most cases of IBD in horses?

Which statement accurately reflects the role of rectal biopsies in diagnosing IBD in horses?

Differential Diagnosis

Colitis

Enteritis

Enterocolitis

Salmonellosis

Antibiotic-induced Colitis

NSAID-induced Colitis

Colitis X

Clostridium Characteristics

C. perfringens in Horses

C. perfringens Exotoxins

C. difficile in Horses

Clostridium toxin A

Clostridium toxin B

Factors Promoting Clostridial Overgrowth

Diagnosing Clostridiosis

NSAID Colitis Mechanism

Common NSAID Culprit

Most Sensitive Colon Area

Common Concurrent Signs

Early Sign of NSAID Colitis

Chronic NSAID Colitis

Diagnosing NSAID Colitis

Ultrasound Finding

Grain Overload

Grain Overload Signs

Diagnosing Grain Overload

Grain Overload Prognosis

Impaction

Impaction signs

Diagnosing Impaction

Anaphylaxis Signs (Horse)

Cyathostome Lifecycle

Cyathostome Clinical Signs

Cyathostome Pathogenesis

Larval Exodus

Diagnosing Cyathostomes

Cyathostome Prognosis

Cyathostome Prevention

Toxic Plants for Horses

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Common Clinical Signs of IBD

Subcategories of Equine IBD

Potential Causes of Equine IBD

Clinical Suspicion of IBD

Initial Diagnostic Steps for IBD

Bloodwork Findings in IBD

Oral Absorption Tests (Glucose or D-Xylose)

Definitive IBD Diagnosis

IBD Biopsy Locations

Sensitivity of IBD Biopsy Techniques

General IBD Prognosis

Prognosis of Eosinophilic Enteritis

IBD Pathophysiology

Intestinal Obstruction in IBD