Di-tri-octahedral smectite for the prevention of post-operative diarrhea in equids with surgical disease of the large intestine: results of a randomized clinical trial.

The research evaluates the positive impact of a di-tri-octahedral smectite product in reducing post-operative diarrhea in horses that have undergone surgery for large intestinal disease.

Research Methodology and Purpose

• The study had a primary objective of determining the potential benefits of di-tri-octahedral (DTO) smectite, a commercially available product, on the clinical signs and frequency of post-surgery diarrhea in horses suffering from large intestinal disease-induced colic.
• A total of 67 equids which had undergone surgery for large intestinal disease were randomly divided into two groups. One group received DTO smectite treatment (37 horses), while the other was given a placebo (30 horses).
• For the treatment group, DTO smectite was administered at a dose of 0.5 kg through nasogastric intubation every 24 hours, over three days following their operation.

Measures and Reporting

• Treatment effects were investigated and recorded by assessing various parameters. These included fecal scores (to determine digestive health), clinical parameters like heart rate, and hematological parameters such as mucous membrane color, body temperature, total white blood cell count, total neutrophil count, and total plasma protein values.

Research Outcomes

• One of the key findings of this research was that horses treated with DTO smectite showed a considerable drop in post-operative diarrhea occurrence (10.8%), in comparison to the control group (41.4%).
• Another important result was the notable improvement in mucous membrane color 72 hours post-surgery in horses that had received DTO smectite, as opposed to the placebo.
• These results, therefore, suggest the effectiveness of DTO smectite in minimizing the development of diarrhea in the immediate post-operative phase among horses that have had surgery due to large intestinal disease.