FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Equine nutrition in the post-operative colic: Survey of Dipl...
Equine veterinary journal2021; 53(5); 1015-1024; doi: 10.1111/evj.13381

Equine nutrition in the post-operative colic: Survey of Diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons, and European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons.

Abstract: Evidence is lacking concerning re-introduction of feed and water following colic surgery. Objective: To describe current approaches of European and American specialists to re-introduction of feed and water in adult horses following surgical treatment of common intestinal lesions, assuming an uncomplicated recovery. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Electronic invitations, with a link to the online survey, were sent to 1,430 large animal specialists, including Diplomates of the ECVS, ACVS, ECEIM and ACVIM colleges. Results: The response rate was 12.6% including partial respondent data. Responses for each multiple-choice question were between 123 and 178. Results are expressed as the percentage of the total number of responses and as a range where specific lesions are grouped together. Respondents reported that horses with large intestinal displacements were offered free choice water (63%-65%) within 3 hours (55%-63%), whereas horses with a small intestinal strangulating lesion were offered < 2 L water (64%-74%) 12-24 hours (28%-34%) post-operatively. Horses with a large colon displacement were offered feed within 3 hours of surgery (16%) with the majority offered feed 6-12 hours (35%-36%) post-operatively. Horses with small intestinal strangulating lesions and small colon lesions were offered feed 24-48 hours (34%-42%) after surgery. Following small intestinal, small colon or caecal lesions, horses were re-introduced feed in handfuls (79%-93%) and initially with grass (41%-54%). Horses with large colon displacements were mostly fed handfuls (49%-50%) of forage initially, but a number of respondents would offer larger quantities such as a small bucket (35%-37%) and predominantly of hay (50%-51%). Conclusions: Low response rate. This study did not take into account common post-operative complications that may alter the clinical approach. Conclusions: This post-operative colic nutrition survey is the first to describe current clinical practice. Further research is required to investigate nutritional strategies in post-operative colic cases.
© 2020 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-01-09 PubMed ID: 33174212PubMed Central: PMC8451781DOI: 10.1111/evj.13381Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 research article presents a survey exploring current practices of European and American veterinary specialists on re-introducing food and water to adult horses after colic surgery. The findings indicate that different practices are followed depending on the type of intestinal lesion. However, due to a low response rate and lack of consideration for post-operative complications, further investigations are required.

Survey Methodology

  • The survey aimed to gather information on the practices followed by veterinary specialists when reintroducing feed and water to horses after surgical treatment for intestinal lesions.
  • Electronic invitations to participate in the survey were sent to 1,430 large animal specialists, including Diplomates of the ECVS, ACVS, ECEIM, and ACVIM colleges.
  • The choice of response method in this survey was multiple-choice questions. The response rate was relatively low, at 12.6%, inclusive of partial respondent data.

Survey Results

  • The manner of reintroducing food and water to horses undergoing surgery varied based on the type of intestinal lesion.
  • Horses with large intestinal displacements were generally given free choice water (63%-65%) within 3 hours post surgery (55%-63%). They were also offered feed within 3-12 hours post surgery.
  • In contrast, post surgery, horses with a small intestinal strangulating lesion were offered less than 2L water (64%-74%) between 12-24 hours (28%-34%) and were offered feed only after 24-48 hours.
  • The feed was primarily reintroduced in handfuls across most conditions (79%-93%) and initially consisted of grass (41%-54%). Horses with large colon displacements were often fed forage in larger quantities, such as a small bucket (35%-37%), usually of hay (50%-51%).

Conclusion and Future Research

  • The survey highlights the lack of consistent practices when reintroducing feed and water to horses after colic surgery, and these practices largely depend on the kind of intestinal lesions the horses have undergone.
  • However, due to the low response rate, the study may not accurately represent the overall practices across veterinary specialists. The survey also didn’t consider potential post-operative complications, which could significantly impact the re-introduction strategy.
  • Thus, future research is needed to further study nutrition strategies in post-operative colic cases, taking into account post-operative complications, for developing more comprehensive and consistent practices for post-operative equine nutrition.

Cite This Article

APA
Lawson AL, Sherlock CE, Ireland JL, Mair TS. (2021). Equine nutrition in the post-operative colic: Survey of Diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons, and European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons. Equine Vet J, 53(5), 1015-1024. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13381

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 5
Pages: 1015-1024

Researcher Affiliations

Lawson, April L
  • Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
Sherlock, Ceri E
  • Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, UK.
Ireland, Jo L
  • Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
Mair, Tim S
  • Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Surgeons
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States / epidemiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

No competing interests have been declared.

References

This article includes 34 references
  1. Mann CJ. Observational research methods. Research design II: cohort, cross sectional, and case-control studies.. Emerg Med J 2003 Jan;20(1):54-60.
    pmc: PMC1726024pubmed: 12533370doi: 10.1136/emj.20.1.54google scholar: lookup
  2. Dalkey N, Helmer O. An experimental application of the Delphi method to the use of experts. Manag Sci 1963;9(3):458–67.
  3. Lewis SJ, Egger M, Sylvester PA, Thomas S. Early enteral feeding versus "nil by mouth" after gastrointestinal surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials.. BMJ 2001 Oct 6;323(7316):773-6.
    pmc: PMC57351pubmed: 11588077doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7316.773google scholar: lookup
  4. Andersen HK, Lewis SJ, Thomas S. Early enteral nutrition within 24h of colorectal surgery versus later commencement of feeding for postoperative complications.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 Oct 18;(4):CD004080.
    doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004080.pub2pubmed: 17054196google scholar: lookup
  5. Lewis SJ, Andersen HK, Thomas S. Early enteral nutrition within 24 h of intestinal surgery versus later commencement of feeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. J Gastrointest Surg 2009 Mar;13(3):569-75.
    pubmed: 18629592doi: 10.1007/s11605-008-0592-xgoogle scholar: lookup
  6. Osland E, Yunus RM, Khan S, Memon MA. Early versus traditional postoperative feeding in patients undergoing resectional gastrointestinal surgery: a meta-analysis.. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2011 Jul;35(4):473-87.
    pubmed: 21628607doi: 10.1177/0148607110385698google scholar: lookup
  7. Herbert G, Perry R, Andersen HK, Atkinson C, Penfold C, Lewis SJ, Ness AR, Thomas S. Early enteral nutrition within 24 hours of lower gastrointestinal surgery versus later commencement for length of hospital stay and postoperative complications.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 Jul 22;7(7):CD004080.
    doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004080.pub4pmc: PMC6645186pubmed: 31329285google scholar: lookup
  8. Mair TS. Feeding management pre‐ and post‐surgery. In: Geor RJ, Harris PA, Coenen M. Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Edinburgh: Saunders Elsevier, 2013;607–17.
  9. Martin D, Joliat GR, Halkic N, Demartines N, Schäfer M. Perioperative nutritional management of patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy: an international survey among surgeons.. HPB (Oxford) 2020 Jan;22(1):75-82.
    pubmed: 31257012doi: 10.1016/j.hpb.2019.05.009google scholar: lookup
  10. Lefebvre D, Pirie RS, Handel IG, Tremaine WH, Hudson NP. Clinical features and management of equine post operative ileus: Survey of diplomates of the European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM) and Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS).. Equine Vet J 2016 Mar;48(2):182-7.
    pubmed: 25256601doi: 10.1111/evj.12355google scholar: lookup
  11. Lefebvre D, Hudson NP, Elce YA, Blikslager A, Divers TJ, Handel IG, Tremaine WH, Pirie RS. Clinical features and management of equine post operative ileus (POI): Survey of Diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC).. Equine Vet J 2016 Nov;48(6):714-719.
    pubmed: 26502215doi: 10.1111/evj.12520google scholar: lookup
  12. Freeman DE, Hammock P, Baker GJ, Goetz T, Foreman JH, Schaeffer DJ, Richter RA, Inoue O, Magid JH. Short- and long-term survival and prevalence of postoperative ileus after small intestinal surgery in the horse.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2000 Jun;(32):42-51.
    pubmed: 11202382doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05333.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  13. Durham AE, Phillips TJ, Walmsley JP, Newton JR. Study of the clinical effects of postoperative parenteral nutrition in 15 horses.. Vet Rec 2003 Oct 18;153(16):493-8.
    pubmed: 14601796doi: 10.1136/vr.153.16.493google scholar: lookup
  14. Cohen ND, Lester GD, Sanchez LC, Merritt AM, Roussel AJ Jr. Evaluation of risk factors associated with development of postoperative ileus in horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004 Oct 1;225(7):1070-8.
    pubmed: 15515986doi: 10.2460/javma.2004.225.1070google scholar: lookup
  15. Pratt‐Phillips SE, Geor RJ. Nutritional management of the colic patient. In: Blikslager AT, White NA, Moore JN, Mair TS. The Equine Acute Abdomen. 3rd ed. Hoboken: Wiley‐Blackwell, 2017;491–508.
  16. Cohen ND, Honnas CM. Risk factors associated with development of diarrhea in horses after celiotomy for colic: 190 cases (1990-1994).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996 Aug 15;209(4):810-3.
    pubmed: 8756885
  17. Aitken MR, Southwood LL, Ross BM, Ross MW. Outcome of Surgical and Medical Management of Cecal Impaction in 150 Horses (1991-2011).. Vet Surg 2015 Jul;44(5):540-6.
    pubmed: 25302715doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2014.12286.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  18. de Bont MP, Proudman CJ, Archer DC. Surgical lesions of the small colon and post operative survival in a UK hospital population.. Equine Vet J 2013 Jul;45(4):460-4.
    pubmed: 23173766doi: 10.1111/evj.12005google scholar: lookup
  19. Valle E, Giusto G, Penazzi L, Giribaldi M, Bergero D, Fradinho MJ, Lamas LRGP, Gandini M. Preliminary results on the association with feeding and recovery length in equine colic patients after laparotomy.. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2019 Jul;103(4):1233-1241.
    pubmed: 31025443doi: 10.1111/jpn.13102google scholar: lookup
  20. Schoster A, Weese JS, Guardabassi L. Probiotic use in horses - what is the evidence for their clinical efficacy?. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Nov-Dec;28(6):1640-52.
    pmc: PMC4895607pubmed: 25231539doi: 10.1111/jvim.12451google scholar: lookup
  21. Desrochers AM, Dolente BA, Roy MF, Boston R, Carlisle S. Efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii for treatment of horses with acute enterocolitis.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005 Sep 15;227(6):954-9.
    pubmed: 16190596doi: 10.2460/javma.2005.227.954google scholar: lookup
  22. Boyle AG, Magdesian KG, Durando MM, Gallop R, Sigdel S. Saccharomyces boulardii viability and efficacy in horses with antimicrobial-induced diarrhoea.. Vet Rec 2013 Feb 2;172(5):128.
    pubmed: 23161811doi: 10.1136/vr.100833google scholar: lookup
  23. Weese JS, Rousseau J. Evaluation of Lactobacillus pentosus WE7 for prevention of diarrhea in neonatal foals.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005 Jun 15;226(12):2031-4.
    pubmed: 15989186doi: 10.2460/javma.2005.226.2031google scholar: lookup
  24. Ströbel C, Günther E, Romanowski K, Büsing K, Urubschurov V, Zeyner A. Effects of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on diarrhoea events of foals in their first weeks of life.. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2018 Oct;102(5):1357-1365.
    pubmed: 29790614doi: 10.1111/jpn.12923google scholar: lookup
  25. Parraga ME, Spier SJ, Thurmond M, Hirsh D. A clinical trial of probiotic administration for prevention of Salmonella shedding in the postoperative period in horses with colic.. J Vet Intern Med 1997 Jan-Feb;11(1):36-41.
    pubmed: 9132482doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1997.tb00071.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  26. Kim LM, Morley PS, Traub-Dargatz JL, Salman MD, Gentry-Weeks C. Factors associated with Salmonella shedding among equine colic patients at a veterinary teaching hospital.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001 Mar 1;218(5):740-8.
    pubmed: 11280409doi: 10.2460/javma.2001.218.740google scholar: lookup
  27. Ward MP, Alinovi CA, Couetil LL, Glickman LT, Wu CC. A randomized clinical trial using probiotics to prevent Salmonella fecal shedding in hospitalized horses. J Equine Vet Sci 2004;24:242–7.
  28. Lopes MA, White NA 2nd. Parenteral nutrition for horses with gastrointestinal disease: a retrospective study of 79 cases.. Equine Vet J 2002 May;34(3):250-7.
    pubmed: 12108742doi: 10.2746/042516402776186083google scholar: lookup
  29. Durham AE, Phillips TJ, Walmsley JP, Newton JR. Nutritional and clinicopathological effects of post operative parenteral nutrition following small intestinal resection and anastomosis in the mature horse.. Equine Vet J 2004 Jul;36(5):390-6.
    pubmed: 15253078doi: 10.2746/0425164044868369google scholar: lookup
  30. Bauck AG, Easley JT, Cleary OB, Graham S, Morton AJ, Rötting AK, Schaeffer DJ, Smith AD, Freeman DE. Response to early repeat celiotomy in horses after a surgical treatment of jejunal strangulation.. Vet Surg 2017 Aug;46(6):843-850.
    pubmed: 28556997doi: 10.1111/vsu.12670google scholar: lookup
  31. Lawson AL, Sherlock CE, Mair TS. Equine duodenal motility, assessed by ultrasonography, as a predictor of reflux and survival following colic surgery. Equine Vet Educ 2021;33:84–9.
  32. Desrochers A. Imaging of the abdomen. In: Blikslager AT, White NA, Moore JN, Mair TS. The Equine Acute Abdomen. 3rd ed. Hoboken: Wiley‐Blackwell, 2017;271–84.
  33. Mair TS. Monitoring treatment for abdominal disease. In: Blikslager AT, White NA, Moore JN, Mair TS. The Equine Acute Abdomen. 3rd ed. Hoboken: Wiley‐Blackwell, 2017;613–23.
  34. Christley RM. Questionnaire survey response rates in equine research.. Equine Vet J 2016 Mar;48(2):138-9.
    pubmed: 26820584doi: 10.1111/evj.12552google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L. Current Antimicrobial Use in Horses Undergoing Exploratory Celiotomy: A Survey of Board-Certified Equine Specialists.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 22;13(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13091433pubmed: 37174470google scholar: lookup
  2. Byrne CA, Hotchkiss JW, Barakzai SZ. Variations in the application of equine prosthetic laryngoplasty: A survey of 128 equine surgeons.. Vet Surg 2023 Feb;52(2):209-220.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.13913pubmed: 36420588google scholar: lookup
  3. Melo UP, Palhares MS, Ferreira C, Leme FOP, Gheller VA. Effects of total parenteral nutrition associated with glutamine, enteral fluid therapy with or without glutamine, and fluid therapy on the acid-base and electrolyte balance of horses starved after exploratory laparotomy.. Braz J Vet Med 2022;44:e003222.
    doi: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003222pubmed: 36284629google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.