Learn Veterinary Medicine with Lomash

Coma:

  • It is a state of deep unconsciousness where animal is unresponsive to external stimuli and unable to wake up.
  • It is terminal point of apathy or depression.

 

Etiology:

Cerebral disorder:

  • Head injury
  • Cerebro-vascular thrombosis
  • Meningitis
  • Epilepsy
  • Cerebral hemorrhage
  • Sub-arachnoid hemorrhage
  • Space occupying lesion of brain

Metabolic disorder and poisoning:

  • Diabetic coma (keto-acidosis)
  • Hypoglycemia coma
  • Endocrine disorder
  • Uremia
  • Hepatic coma
  • Pulmonary encephalopathy
  • Barbiturate poisoning

Cardiac disorder:

  • Coronary thrombosis

Pulmonary disorder:

  • Pulmonary infarction
  • CO2 narcosis

Diagnosis:

  • History of trauma, head injury
  • History of infectious disease; meningitis, epilepsy, diabetic coma

 

Treatment:

  • Animal should be kept in lateral recumbency.
  • Whole body should be kept clean
  • Oral feeding with glucose water
  • Glucose administration by drip method
  • In case of metabolic acidosis, diabetic coma, uremia; 150-500 cc of molar lactate should be administered.
  • Oxygen should be provided through inhalation route
  • Antibiotics to be used in case of infectious causes.
  • Use of respiratory stimulant; Nikethamide @ 1-5 mg/kg, IV in dogs and cats or 1-2 drops under tongue of apneic neonates. In adult horse, it is given @ 0.5-1 mg/kg, IV.
  • If coma is due to toxin ingestion, treatment protocols includes decontamination of animals, administration of specific antidotes or supportive care to minimize the toxin effect.
  • In case of head injury, surgery is required to address physical injuries or to correct bleeding in brain or removal of space occupying lesion.

 

 

 

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