Page 115 - March_2022

MUCOUS
MEMBRANES
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
It seems fitting to walk you through some basic evaluations you can do on your horse when you think he may be out of sorts.
This provides you and your veterinarian with specific information that may need to be acted on immediately. In this first install- ment, let’s focus on mucous membranes.
When evaluating the overall health of a horse, it is common to focus on the obvious – the bloom of the hair coat, the horse’s attitude, his posture and stance. Yes, there is another useful clue about the health of the internal workings of a horse: the mucous membranes, which line body cavities, and are visible wherever skin interfaces with a body opening, such as the gums, the vulva, the prepuce and penis, inside the nostrils and the conjunctival sac of the eye. These membranes secrete viscous mucus that keeps them moist and protected, and they are also well supplied with blood to provide useful information about the circulatory status of the horse.
Anemia indicates a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, either due to blood loss or to chronic bacterial or parasitic infection.
MUCOUS MEMBRANE COLOR
Mucous membranes are a reflector of internal health as they reveal the efficiency of the heart as a pump and the capacity of vessels to carry the blood circulation to the periphery. When an adequate supply of oxygenated blood is carried to all areas of the body, the color of the gums is similar to the pink hue beneath your fingernails. Any departure from this pink may mirror an internal change.
Paleness indicates a reduction of red blood cells and/or oxygen in the peripheral circulation. This may result from blood loss or dehydration. Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin related to blood loss (acute or persistent) or chronic bacterial or parasitic infection. Chronic blood
loss occurs with leakage from the gastrointestinal tract, such as with bleeding gastric ulcers or with excretion through an inflamed urinary tract. Tissue necrosis related to cancer of internal organs also consumes red blood cells.
The color of the gums will be pink when an adequate supply of oxygenated blood is carried to all areas of the body.
A yellow tinge to the mucous membranes reflects jaundice, which may be transient due to diminished appetite and food intake or to a diet rich in alfalfa but could be more lasting and serious as a result of liver disease.
Various lighting conditions may lead to inaccurate interpretation when assessing
A yellow tinge to the mucous membranes reflects jaundice, which may be due to lack of appetite or to a diet rich in alfalfa but also could be more serious as a result of liver disease.
VETERINARY VIEWS
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