Diagnosis and treatment of equine colic

THIS AND THE REMAINDER OF THE PAPER ARE ACCOMPANIED BY ILLUSTRATIONS. TO DIAGNOSE EQUINE COLIC, THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS A THOROUGH PHYSICAL EXAMINATION INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING POINTS WHICH ARE DETAILED IN THE REPORT: EVALUATION OF THE DEGREE OF PAIN; ABDOMINAL DISTENSION; TEMPERATURE, PULSE, AND RESPIRATION; MUCOUS MEMBRANES; AUSCULTATION OF THE ABDOMEN; RECTAL EXAMINATION; PASS THE STOMACH TUBE; PARACENTESIS; AND LABORATORY TESTS. TREATMENTS OUTLINED ARE: CONTROL PAIN, SEDATIVES, RELIEF OF OBSTRUCTION, DECREASE PRODUCTION OF TOXINS, PREVENTION OR TREATMENT OF VASCONSTRICTION, AND CORRECTION OF VOLUME DEFICIT. IF SURGERY IS NECESSARY, THE FOLLOWING APPROACHES ARE OFFERED: 1) PARALUMBAR FOSSA; 2) VERTICAL OR TRANSVERSE FLANK; 3) OBLIQUE LOW FLANK, CRANIVENTRAL OR PARACOSTAL APPROACH; 4) OBLIQUE LOW FLANK, CAUDOVENTRAL OR MARCENAC APPROACH; 5) VENTRAL ABDOMINAL APPROACH; AND INGUINAL APPROACH.