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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2016; 58(1); 73; doi: 10.1186/s13028-016-0254-z

Comparison of psyllium feeding at home and nasogastric intubation of psyllium and magnesium sulfate in the hospital as a treatment for naturally occurring colonic sand (geosediment) accumulations in horses: a retrospective study.

Abstract: Ingestion of geosediment (further referred as sand) may cause weight loss, diarrhea and acute or recurrent colic in horses. Our aim was to compare the efficacy of three treatment protocols in clearing colonic sand accumulations in clinical patients. This retrospective clinical study consisted of 1097 horses and ponies, which were radiographed for the presence of colonic sand. Horses included to the study (n = 246) were displaying areas of sand in the radiographs of ≥75 cm2 and were treated medically monitoring the response with radiographs. The horses were assigned into three groups based on the given treatment: Group 1 was fed psyllium [1 g/kg body weight (BW)] daily at home for a minimum of 10 days (n = 57); Group 2 was treated once with psyllium or magnesium sulfate by nasogastric tubing followed by daily feeding of psyllium (1 g/kg BW) at home for a minimum of 10 days (n = 19), and Group 3 was treated by daily nasogastric tubing for 3-7 days with psyllium and/or magnesium sulfate (1 g of each/kg BW) (n = 170). Results: The initial area of sand did not differ significantly between the treatments. Group 3 had significantly less residual sand than Groups 1 and 2, and the proportion of resolved horses was higher in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2. Conclusions: Daily nasogastric tubing with psyllium and/or magnesium sulfate for 3-7 days removes large accumulations of sand from the colon in horses more effectively than feeding psyllium for at least 10 days.
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Publication Date: 2016-10-12 PubMed ID: 27733202PubMed Central: PMC5059958DOI: 10.1186/s13028-016-0254-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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 compares different treatment methods for removing sand accumulation in the horse’s colons. The researchers concluded that nasogastric tubing with psyllium or magnesium sulfate for 3-7 days was more effective than psyllium feeding for at least 10 days.

Study Objectives and Methodology

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of three different protocols in treating horses with sand accumulations in their colons. Sand accumulation can cause various health problems in horses, including weight loss, diarrhea, and colic. The study was conducted using a retrospective approach with horses and ponies that were radiographed for the presence of sand in their colons.

  • Of the initial 1097 horses and ponies, 246 exhibited substantial sand accumulation (represented by an area of more than 75 cm in the X-ray images). These animals were included in the study and divided into three groups based on the treatment provided.
  • Group 1 was treated with daily feeding of psyllium at home for a minimum of 10 days.
  • Group 2 received a once-off treatment with psyllium or magnesium sulfate through nasogastric tubing, followed by daily psyllium feeding.
  • Group 3 was treated with daily nasogastric tubing of psyllium or magnesium sulfate for 3-7 days.

Results and Conclusions

The researchers tracked the response to these treatments using radiographs. The initial sand accumulation did not significantly differ between the groups. However, the results showed variations in the treatment outcomes.

  • Group 3 horses, which received daily nasogastric tubing for 3-7 days, showed significantly less residual sand compared to the other two groups.
  • This group also had a higher proportion of resolved horses, indicating that the condition of these horses had improved.

In conclusion, the study suggests that the protocol of daily nasogastric tubing with psyllium and/or magnesium sulfate for 3-7 days can more effectively remove large sand accumulations from the colon in horses, compared to feeding psyllium at home for at least 10 days. This research could serve as a valuable guide for equine healthcare providers in determining the most effective treatment for horses suffering from sand accumulation in the colon.

Cite This Article

APA
Kaikkonen R, Niinistö K, Lindholm T, Raekallio M. (2016). Comparison of psyllium feeding at home and nasogastric intubation of psyllium and magnesium sulfate in the hospital as a treatment for naturally occurring colonic sand (geosediment) accumulations in horses: a retrospective study. Acta Vet Scand, 58(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-016-0254-z

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 1
Pages: 73

Researcher Affiliations

Kaikkonen, Ritva
  • Oulu Equine Clinic (Previously Evidensia Equine Clinic Oulu), Äimänrautiontie 5, 90400, Oulu, Finland. ritukaikkonen@gmail.com.
Niinistö, Kati
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Koetilankuja 1, P. O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Lindholm, Tiina
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Koetilankuja 1, P. O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Raekallio, Marja
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Koetilankuja 1, P. O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cathartics / administration & dosage
  • Colon / pathology
  • Drug Combinations
  • Geologic Sediments
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Intestinal Obstruction / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Obstruction / drug therapy
  • Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
  • Intubation, Gastrointestinal / veterinary
  • Magnesium Sulfate / administration & dosage
  • Psyllium / administration & dosage
  • Radiography / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Entwisle IG, Byrne DP, Lester GD, McConnell EJ. Radiographic area of large intestinal sand accumulation in horses may determine clinical significance. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):890-893.
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  2. Tharwat M, Al-Sobayil F. Equine colic: A comprehensive overview of the sonographic evaluation, diagnostic criteria, and management of different categories. Open Vet J 2025 Mar;15(3):1116-1139.
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  3. Laustsen L, Edwards JE, Hermes GDA, Lúthersson N, van Doorn DA, Okrathok S, Kujawa TJ, Smidt H. Free Faecal Water: Analysis of Horse Faecal Microbiota and the Impact of Faecal Microbial Transplantation on Symptom Severity. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 23;11(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11102776pubmed: 34679798google scholar: lookup
  4. Mienaltowski MJ, Belt A, Henderson JD, Boyd TN, Marter N, Maga EA, DePeters EJ. Psyllium supplementation is associated with changes in the fecal microbiota of horses. BMC Res Notes 2020 Sep 29;13(1):459.
    doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05305-wpubmed: 32993781google scholar: lookup
  5. Bergstrom TC, Sakai RR, Nieto JE. Catastrophic gastric rupture in a horse secondary to psyllium pharmacobezoars. Can Vet J 2018 Mar;59(3):249-253.
    pubmed: 29599554
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