Colonic Health in Hospitalized Horses Treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs – A Preliminary Study.

The research study explores the impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the colonic health of hospitalized horses. The results reveal that horses treated with NSAIDs are at a higher risk of developing colonic pathologies, necessitating close monitoring and the need for further non-invasive diagnostic tests.

Objective of the Study

• The primary goal of this study is to examine whether horses treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) develop pathologies in their right dorsal colonic region.

Methodology

• Seventeen horses treated with NSAIDs for more than four days, including both teaching horses owned by the hospital and non-gastrointestinal client-owned hospitalized horses, were included in the study. Additionally, five untreated horses were included as control subjects.
• The study monitored all horses over time using various methods: clinical examinations focusing on signs such as colic, depression, reduced appetite, and unstructured feces; ultrasonographic measurements of intestinal wall thickness; semi-quantitative fecal occult blood tests; and blood analysis to evaluate total protein and albumin concentrations, as well as white blood cell and neutrophil counts.

Findings

• NSAID-treated horses developed thicker right dorsal colon (RDC) walls compared to the untreated group. The thickness was significantly more than their baseline values and when compared to control horses.
• Indications like subclinical and mild colitis, along with the right dorsal colitis, were also more prevalent among horses treated with NSAIDs.
• These changes were noticeable from the second day of treatment, suggesting that the impact of NSAID treatment on colonic health is relatively immediate.
• However, despite the high incidence of colonic pathologies, the severity was relatively low.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• The study concludes that treatment with NSAIDs can lead to potential colon pathologies in horses, even at the early stage of treatment.
• Given these findings, it advises rigorous monitoring throughout NSAID treatment to identify and address signs of colonic health issues promptly.
• It further underscores the need for additional research to develop noninvasive diagnostic tests for colon pathology to aid early detection and risk mitigation.