Enteroliths in horses–a retrospective study of 30 cases.
Abstract: In a retrospective study of selected cases, abdominal colic in 30 horses was attributed to enterolith obstructions of the large intestine. Obstructions caused by "true" enteroliths were confined to horses more than four years old. Prominent clinical features were recurrent mild abdominal pain, inappetance, gaseous distension and minimal intestinal motility. The various aspects of the clinical syndrome, including diagnostic problems and clinical management, are discussed. Most obstructing enteroliths were found near the beginning of the small colon and most horses contained only a single major concretion. Enteroliths were formed by mineral deposition in concentric layers about a central nidus of ingested material and were spherical or tetrahedral in shape. Intestinal concretions were found to consist primarily of ammonium magnesium phosphate.
Publication Date: 1979-04-01 PubMed ID: 477649DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1979.tb01307.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Abdominal
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Signs
- Clinical Study
- Colic
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Gastrointestinal Health
- Horses
- Retrospective Study
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research studied 30 cases of horses experiencing abdominal pain due to enterolith obstructions in their large intestine. The study analyzed the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and management of this condition.
Overview of Enteroliths in Horses
- The study is retrospective in nature, meaning it looked back on previous cases of horses experiencing abdominal colic due to obstruction in their large intestine caused by enteroliths.
- Enteroliths are hard mineral-like formations originating within the gastrointestinal tract, typically surrounding an indigestible core or nidus. These were noted to be mostly present in horses aged four years or older.
Clinical Presentation of Enteroliths
- The main clinical features among horses with enteroliths in this study included recurrent mild abdominal pain, inappetance (lack of desire to eat), gaseous distension, and minimal intestinal motility. These symptoms suggest a serious impact on the horse’s overall health and daily function.
Diagnostic Challenges
- As part of their research, the authors discuss the difficulties in diagnosing enteroliths in horses. Detailed information about these diagnostic challenges is not included in the abstract, but they are likely related to detecting the enteroliths within the horses’ large intestine, characterizing the enteroliths’ size, location, and composition, and determining the appropriate medical or surgical intervention.
Clinical Management
- While the abstract doesn’t provide specific details regarding the approach of treatment or management, it indicates that the context is discussed in the full study. Management might involve techniques to break up and remove the enteroliths, or in extreme cases, surgical intervention.
Characterization of Enteroliths
- The study found that most of the obstructing enteroliths were found near the beginning of the small colon and most horses had only one large enterolith.
- The enteroliths formed by mineral deposition in concentric layers around a central core of ingested material. The formations were either spherical or tetrahedral in shape. They were found to primarily consist of ammonium magnesium phosphate, a type of mineral that commonly forms struvite stones in mammals.
Cite This Article
APA
Blue MG.
(1979).
Enteroliths in horses–a retrospective study of 30 cases.
Equine Vet J, 11(2), 76-84.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1979.tb01307.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calculi / surgery
- Calculi / veterinary
- Colic / veterinary
- Colonic Diseases / surgery
- Colonic Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Intestinal Diseases / surgery
- Intestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Crosa AT, Katzman SA, Kelleher ME, Nieto JE, Kilcoyne I, Dechant JE. Incidence of incisional complications after exploratory celiotomy in equids affected with enterolithiasis.. Can Vet J 2020 Oct;61(10):1085-1091.
- Lohmann KL, Lewis SR, Wobeser B, Allen AL. Penetrating metallic foreign bodies as a cause of peritonitis in 3 horses.. Can Vet J 2010 Dec;51(12):1400-4.
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