Assessment and management of the recumbent horse in the field

Any equine practitioner that has had to attend to a recumbent horse in practice will agree that they present a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In this lecture, I will discuss a systematic approach to the recumbent horse, with a focus on what can realistically be achieved in the field with equipment that is available to most practitioners. The first part of the lecture will focus on the diagnostic approach; including situational awareness, safety, asking the right questions and interpreting the results of the physical examination. This will also include a detailed discussion on the neurological assessment of the recumbent horse and selection of additional point of care clinicopathological tests to complete the minimum database. This information will be used to formulate a problem list, and then common differential diagnoses will be discussed in detail using a body system approach. The lecture will conclude with brief overview on how to manage the recumbent horse, and how to determine a prognosis, including guidelines for humane destruction.

• •Explain how to approach a recumbent horse safely in the field and list important aspects of the history
• •Describe how to perform and interpret a physical examination of a recumbent horse, including a detailed neurological assessment
• •List the most important causes of recumbency in the horse and know how to diagnose them
• •Describe the most important principles of managing a recumbent horse in the field and be aware of common complications
• •Formulate a prognosis and be aware of the BEVA guidelines for humane destruction