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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Acute post-treatment enterocolitis in 13 horses treated in a...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica1996; 37(2); 203-211; doi: 10.1186/BF03548112

Acute post-treatment enterocolitis in 13 horses treated in a Norwegian surgical ward.

Abstract: Case histories, results of laboratory analyses, treatment regimens and outcome are described for 13 horses that developed acute enterocolitis after various surgical treatments. Twelve of the 13 horses had been cast in lateral recumbency, and 10 of those 12 had received general anesthesia. Eleven horses had been treated with antimicrobial drugs. Most horses (11) developed diarrhea 2 days after initiation of treatment, with a variation from 1 to 5 days. The most apparent symptoms were fever, up to 40.5 degrees C, elevated heart rate, discoloration of mucous membranes, and diarrhea. Dehydration, acidosis and leukopenia were marked at the time clinical signs occurred. Packed cell volume and total serum protein values were elevated. Therapy was directed toward replacement of fluid losses, restoration of acid-base balance, and counteraction of inflammation. Seven horses (54%) died or were euthanized. At necropsy, pathological changes showed large variations between individuals. Salmonella spp. were not isolated from any of the horses, and no common causative agent was identified. Preventive efforts to avoid post-treatment enterocolitis have been taken with regard to preoperative routines, premedication and anesthesia, with apparent success.
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Publication Date: 1996-01-01 PubMed ID: 8767698PubMed Central: PMC8063974DOI: 10.1186/BF03548112Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article describes the case studies of 13 horses that developed acute enterocolitis following surgical treatments in a Norwegian ward, discusses the results of laboratory analyses, treatment regimens, and outcomes, and suggests preventative measures to avoid such a post-treatment development.

Case Description

  • The case study included 13 horses that underwent various surgical treatments and later developed acute enterocolitis, an inflammation of the small intestine and colon.
  • Of these, twelve horses had been cast in lateral recumbency, meaning they were laid on their sides for treatment, and ten out of these twelve had received general anesthesia.
  • Eleven horses had been treated with antimicrobial medications.

Observations and Symptoms

  • In most cases (11 out of 13), diarrhea developed two days after treatment started, with a variation of 1 to 5 days.
  • Other common signs of illness included a high fever of up to 40.5 degrees Celsius, elevated heart rate, discoloration of mucous membranes, and diarrhea.
  • Severe dehydration, acidosis (an excess of acid in the body fluids), and leukopenia (low white blood cell count) were also observed when these clinical signs occurred.
  • On analysis, high levels of packed cell volume and total serum proteins were found.

Treatment and Outcome

  • The treatment strategy mainly aimed at replacing the lost body fluids, restoring the acid-base balance in the body, and controlling inflammation.
  • Unfortunately, more than half of the horses (seven) did not survive, either dying naturally or being euthanized to prevent further suffering.
  • Necropsy (animal autopsy) findings of the deceased showed large individual variations in pathological changes, suggesting differing individual responses to the disease or treatment.

Microbial Analysis and Preventive Efforts

  • No Salmonella spp., which are common causes of enteritis in animals, were found in any of the horses, and no common causative agents were identified across the cases.
  • The surgical ward initiated preventative measures to avoid enterocolitis after surgical treatments. These changes pertained to preoperative routines, premedication, and anesthesia practices and appeared to be successful.

Cite This Article

APA
Larsen J, Dolvik NI, Teige J. (1996). Acute post-treatment enterocolitis in 13 horses treated in a Norwegian surgical ward. Acta Vet Scand, 37(2), 203-211. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548112

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 2
Pages: 203-211

Researcher Affiliations

Larsen, J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Oslo, Norway. Jostein.Larsen@veths.no
Dolvik, N I
    Teige, J

      MeSH Terms

      • Acute Disease
      • Animals
      • Enterocolitis / complications
      • Enterocolitis / therapy
      • Enterocolitis / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / pathology
      • Horse Diseases / therapy
      • Horses / surgery
      • Norway
      • Postoperative Complications / pathology
      • Postoperative Complications / therapy
      • Postoperative Complications / veterinary

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 2 times.
      1. van Spijk JN, Beckmann K, Wehrli Eser M, Stirn M, Steuer AE, Saleh L, Schoster A. Preliminary Investigation of Side Effects of Polymyxin B Administration in Hospitalized Horses. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 May 5;12(5).
        doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12050854pubmed: 37237756google scholar: lookup
      2. Kuroda T, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Mizobe F, Ueno T, Kuwano A, Hatazoe T, Hobo S. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ulcerative keratitis in a Thoroughbred racehorse. J Equine Sci 2015;26(3):95-8.
        doi: 10.1294/jes.26.95pubmed: 26435683google scholar: lookup
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