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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(15); 2518; doi: 10.3390/ani13152518

Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses.

Abstract: Ileus is a common life-threatening problem in horses, and currently available treatments may be ineffective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bit chewing, a form of sham feeding, decreases the gastric emptying time (GET), small intestinal transit time (SITT), and total orocecal transit time (OCTT) in clinically normal horses in a prospective crossover study. Nine healthy horses were acclimated and fed a standardized diet. Following 24 h of fasting, self-contained video endoscopy capsules and acetaminophen were administered into the stomach via a nasogastric tube. Each horse underwent experimental (bit chewing for 20 min every 6 h) or control (no bit chewing) conditions, with a 3-week minimum washout period between conditions. The horses were enrolled in either part of the study until all video capsules were retrieved and/or 30 days lapsed. The video capsules were recovered from manure, and GET, SITT, and OCTT were determined from a video analysis. Bit chewing significantly decreased OCTT ( = 0.015) compared to the control conditions. Bit chewing decreased GET and SITT, but the differences were not significant. The mean (median) times determined via the video capsule analysis for the bit-chewing conditions were as follows: GET, 2.34 h (2.86 h); SITT, 3.22 h (3.65 h); and OCTT, 5.13 h (6.15 h), and for the control conditions, they were as follows: GET, 3.93 h (5 h); SITT, 3.79 h (4.4 h); and OCTT, 8.02 h (9.92 h). Bit chewing decreased OCTT in healthy horses. Because this segment of the gastrointestinal tract is frequently affected by ileus, bit chewing may be a safe and inexpensive intervention for that condition in horses. Further investigation in clinical patients with ileus is warranted.
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Publication Date: 2023-08-04 PubMed ID: 37570326PubMed Central: PMC10416828DOI: 10.3390/ani13152518Google 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 researchers aimed to determine the effects of bit chewing on various aspects of the digestion process in horses, such as gastric emptying time, small intestinal transit time, and total orocecal transit time. They discovered that bit chewing notably reduces overall orocecal transit time, suggesting a possible cost-effective intervention for the common and often fatal horse condition, ileus.

Objective

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether bit chewing, a simulated feeding behavior, influences digestion times in healthy horses. Possible improvement in digestion could present a low-cost and non-hazardous method in treating ileus, a severe and sometimes fatal condition in horses, which is usually resistant to treatment.

Methodology

  • Nine healthy horses were utilized for this study. They were acclimated and fed a standard diet.
  • After 24 hours of fasting, video endoscopy capsules and acetaminophen were administered into the stomach of the horses through nasogastric tubes.
  • Each horse underwent either experimental (bit chewing for 20 minutes every 6 hours) or control conditions (without bit chewing), with a minimum of 3 weeks washout period between the two conditions.
  • The experiment continued until all video capsules were retrieved and/or 30 days had passed.

Results

  • The video capsules were retrieved from the horses’ manure. Data from the video footage was used to assess the gastric emptying time (GET), small intestinal transit time (SITT), and total orocecal transit time (OCTT).
  • The study found that bit chewing significantly reduced the OCTT, compared to the control conditions.
  • Though bit chewing resulted in decreased GET and SITT, the differences were not statistically significant.
  • The mean times noted through video capsule analysis for the horses under the bit-chewing condition were: GET – 2.34 hours; SITT – 3.22 hours; OCTT – 5.13 hours. For horses under the control conditions, the noted times were: GET – 3.93 hours; SITT – 3.79 hours; OCTT – 8.02 hours.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that bit chewing reduces OCTT in healthy horses. Given that this section of the gastrointestinal tract is frequently affected by ileus, bit chewing could offer an affordable and risk-free intervention for this condition in horses. They, therefore, recommend further investigation in clinical patients suffering from ileus.

Cite This Article

APA
Patton ME, Andrews FM, Bogers SH, Wong D, McKenzie HC, Werre SR, Byron CR. (2023). Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses. Animals (Basel), 13(15), 2518. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152518

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 15
PII: 2518

Researcher Affiliations

Patton, Molly E
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Andrews, Frank M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Bogers, Sophie H
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Wong, David
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, 1800 Christensen Drive, Ames, IW 50011, USA.
McKenzie, Harold C
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Werre, Stephen R
  • Laboratory for Study Design and Statistical Analysis, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Byron, Christopher R
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.

Grant Funding

  • N/A / Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Equine Research Competition Grant

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Obrochta B, Tapio H, Raekallio M, Gracia Calvo LA, Pöyhönen RR, Hagman K, Jantunen N, Karikoski N. Effects of vatinoxan on gastrointestinal motility, sedation, and antinociception during and after long-lasting detomidine infusion in horses. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):212-219.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14499pubmed: 40110892google scholar: lookup
  2. St-Jean C, Collier A, Zur Linden A, Bersenas A, Defarges A. Feasibility and complications of videocapsule endoscopy in dogs weighing 7 kg or less. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):e17286.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17286pubmed: 39792325google scholar: lookup
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