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Topic:Gastrointestinal Health
Gastrointestinal health in horses encompasses the study of the structure, function, and disorders of the equine digestive system. The equine gastrointestinal tract is complex, consisting of the stomach, small intestine, cecum, and large intestine, each playing a specific role in digestion and nutrient absorption. Research in this area often focuses on common disorders such as colic, gastric ulcers, and parasitic infections, which can impact a horse's overall health and performance. Investigations examine factors affecting gastrointestinal health, including diet, management practices, and the microbiome. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiology, pathology, and management of gastrointestinal health in horses.
Critical anthelmintic trials in ponies with oxfendazole and caviphos and concomitant studies on the spontaneous elimination of small strongylids. The efficacy of the benzimidazole, oxfendazole, and the organophosphate, caviphos, against gastrointestinal parasites of ponies was evaluated by the critcial test method. Oxfendazole (10 mg/kg of body weight) given in single oral doses was 100% effective against adult large strongylids (Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus edentatus, and Strongylus equinus), 99% effective against adult small strongylids, and 97% effective against 4th-stage small strongylids (genera identified in order of frequency: Cylicostephanus, Cyathostomum, Cylicocyclus, Triodontophorus, Poteriostomum, Oesophagodontus, Cylicod...
Critical test evaluation of butamisole against gastrointestinal parasites of horses and ponies. A critical test was performed to evaluate the anthelmintic properties of an injectable butamisole formulation and to compare the efficiency with that of a commercially available piperazine-thiabendazole anthelmintic. The test was done in 10 horses and 15 ponies with naturally acquired parasitic infections. Butamisole was administered at the dose level of 2.5 or 3.75 mg/kg of body weight by either subcutaneous or deep intramuscular injection. Given at the dose level of 2.5 mg/kg, butamisole was highly effective (99%) against Strongylus vulgaris and moderately effective (49%) against Parascaris ...
Cube colic. "Cube colic" is described and vain attempts to cause the problem on an experimental basis are recorded. It is concluded that not all horses are susceptible to cube colic and if colic occurs in horses being fed on cubes, it is not necessarily due to feeding of cubes. Nomenclature of bowel disorders is considered.
A chronic wasting syndrome in a horse associated with granulomatous enteritis. A case of granulomatous enteritis in a 2 year-old Thoroughbred colt is reported. Clinically the horse showed chronic wasting and subcutaneous oedema of the ventral parts of the body and legs. Grossly the wall of the jejunum and ileum was uniformly thickened. Microscopically the lamina propria, submucosa and the tunica muscalaris of the small intestine were infiltrated with lymphocytes, plasma cells, epithelioid cells and occasional multinucleated giant cells. The granulomatous reaction was most marked in the muscular layers of the gut wall.
The effect of some anti-diarrhoeal drugs on intestinal transit and faecal excretion of water and electrolytes in the horse. The effect of morphine, Tinct. opii, loperamide, pethidine and atropine on intestinal transit and the faecal and urinary excretion of water and electrolytes was studied in ponies. The rate of passage of a particulate marker was slowed by morphine, hastened then slowed by loperamide and Tinct. opii, and hastened by atropine. The liquid marker was slowed by Tinct. opii and hastened then slowed by the other drugs. Only loperamide decreased the faecal sodium excretion. This drug also decreased faecal water and weight; it appeared worthy of clinical trial in diarrhoea. Tinct. opii decreased by morp...
Physiological implications of microbial digestion in the large intestine of mammals: relation to dietary factors. The rate of digesta marker passage through the large intestine of the dog, pig, and pony correlated with the relative length and degree of sacculation of the colon. Volatile fatty acids (VFA), the end products of microbial digestion of all forms of carbohydrate, were the major anions present in large intestinal contents of all three species. Total VFA concentration was little affected by the feeding of high-versus low-fiber diets. VFA were rapidly transported across colonic mucosa of all three species. Results of comparative studies indicate that production and absorption of VFA are important ...
Changes in the caecal flora associated with the onset of laminitis. Caecal fluid samples collected 8 and 24 hours after carbohydrate overload were quantitatively compared to control samples in terms of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Concomitant increases in lactic acid-producing bacteria and decreases in Gram negative bacteria were substantiated during the onset of acute laminitis. Progressive decreases in caecal fluid pH were also quantitated. Although endotoxin assays of caecal fluid and blood were not done, the caecal flora changes suggest its presence during the onset of acute laminitis.
Strongylus edentatus: development and lesions from ten weeks postinfection to patency. Pony foals inoculated with infective Strongylus edentatus larvae were examined at necropsy from ten to 72 weeks postinfection. At ten weeks postinfection larvae were visible retroperitoneally in the liver and flanks and were recovered from the ligaments of the liver. The fourth molt was detected at 16 weeks postinfection and larvae were also recovered from the wall of the cecum at this time. By 40 weeks adult S. edentatus containing eggs were found in the contents of the cecum and colon. While many larvae migrate to remote parts of the body, it is likely that only those that attain the base of...
Chronic enteritis associated with the malabsorption and protein-losing enteropathy in the horse. Chronic granulomatous enteritis associated with weight loss and hypoproteinemia was identified in 2 horses. Both horses continued to have normally formed feces. Malabsorption of carbohydrate and lipid, with concomitant gastrointestinal protein loss was demonstrated in 1 case. One horse was treated symptomatically and gained 108 kg. In both cases, principal gastrointestinal lesions were partial to total villus atrophy and transmural mononuclear leukocytosis, with lymphocytes and histiocytes predominating. The cause of the condition was not identified in either case.
Presurgical care of the equine colic patient. The pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation and medical management of the horse with intestinal obstruction is outlined. Emphasis is on early and accurate determination of the need for surgery and on providing optimal preoperative medical support.
Critical anthelmintic trials in ponies with four benzimidazoles: mebendazole, cambendazole, fenbendazole, and albendazole. The comparative efficacy of four benzimidazoles against gastrointestinal parasites of ponies was evaluated by the critical test method. Mebendazole (8.8 mg/kg), cambendazole (20 mg/kg), fenbendazole (5 mg/kg), and albendazole (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) given in single oral doses were highly effective against adult large strongylids (Strongylus vulgaris, S. endentatus, S. equinus) and adult small strongylids (genera identified in order of frequency: Cylicostephanus, Cylicocyclus, Cyathostomum, Triodontophorus, Poteriostomum, Oesophagodontus, Cylicodontophorus, Gyalocephalus, and Craterostomum). Limited ...
Some problems associated with intestinal surgery in the horse. The paper considers the general principles of intestinal surgery in the horse and illustrates a theatre layout suitable for this purpose. The problems of locating and reducing obstructions of the small and large intestine are discussed, with particular emphasis on incarcerations of the small bowel and the techniques of jejunal and ileal re-implantation after bowel resection.
