Ultrasonography of the Colic Horse

In the adult horse colic is the most common manifestation of a digestive disease. The diagnosis of the cause of the colic is a challenge for the equine practitioner and it will influence treatment choice. Transabdominal ultrasonography has become a part of the routine work-up in horses with colic. Depending on the severity and the duration of the symptoms the ultrasonographic approach will be different.

Material and technique
The ultrasonographic exam is easier to perform on the clipped abdomen. However, depending on the degree of the emergency, it is commonly realised using alcohol and images obtained are of sufficient quality to be interpreted. A 2.5-3.5 MHz convex probe is the probe to be used to fully assess the abdomen, but the linear rectal 5MHz probe used for reproduction may be used for a partial exam. The higher frequency linear probe (7-7.5MHz) is also very useful to better evaluate superficial structures especially bowel walls and caecal lymph nodes. […]