Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

DISEASES OF THE SPLEEN

Splenomegaly

• Etiology
  • Acute, fatal infections disease, e.g, anthrax, salmonellosis
  • Acute hemolytic diseases, e.g. babeisosis, equine infectious anemia
  • Sudden deaths, e.g, electrocution, barbiturate euthanasia
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Portal obstruction
  • Tumor, e.g. hemagniosarcoma, lymphosarcoma, myelocytic leukemia, malignant melanoma in horses
• Clinical findings
  • Virtually symptomless
  • Palpated accidentally on rectal examination in horses
  • Displaced spleen, e.g., in left dorsal displacement of colon, may give impression of splenomegaly
  • Bleeding from hermangiosarcoma may cause signs of anemia hemoperiotoneum
  • Rupture of enlarged spleen may cause death due to hemorrhagica anemia

Splenic Abcess

Etioliogy

• • Extension of infection from perforated stomach, reticulum
  • Hematogenous spread by bacteremia or embolus, e.g., strangles

• Clinical findings
  • Anorexia
  • Fever
  • Tachycardia
  • Pain on palpation over spleen
  • Inflammatory fluid on parcentesis
  • Anemia, mucosal pallor
  • Ventral edema as a late sign
  • Enlarged spleen rarely palpable rectally
  • If peritonitis concurrent additional signs of
  • Arched back
  • Disinclination to more
  • Mild, recurrent colic in horses

• Clinical pathology
  • Marked leukocytosis, neurophila, left shift.

• Treatment
  • Broad –spectrum antibacterial treatment for at least 7 days preferably longer; response good but relapse frequent; dubious value in sever cases in low-value animals.
  • Splenectomy an option if adhesions and peritonitis absent