Foreign body obstruction of the small colon in six horses.

The research paper discusses how six horses, suffering from an obstruction in their small colon due to foreign material, showed progressive signs of abdominal pain and bloating. Post surgery, the majority of these horses recovered successfully.

Abdominal Pain and Distension Symptoms

• The research focused on six horses that were diagnosed with obstruction in the small colon due to foreign bodies. These horses displayed more severe and progressive abdominal pain.
• Additional symptoms included intestinal tympany (a condition in which the intestines fill up with gas).

Rectal Examination Findings

• Rectal examinations were conducted on all six horses. Upon examination, it was found that the horse’s cecum (a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine) and large colon were overly filled with ingesta (digestive matter) and gas.
• In only three of the six cases, the obstruction could be felt when carrying out the examination.

Blood Pressure and Stomach Distension

• All six horses had heightened indirect blood pressure. This indicates a state of stress or this abnormality was due to the abdominal discomfort horses were experiencing.
• Three of these horses also showed signs of fluid accumulation in their stomach, which could be due to the inability to pass the ingested matter through the small colon.

Origin of Foreign Bodies

• Only one horse had known exposure to foreign materials, suggesting that it might have ingested the same, causing obstruction.
• Interestingly, three horses’ condition was related to an exceptionally dry climate period. This implies that the dry climate might have led to the horses ingesting dry and potentially harmful materials causing obstruction. The direct correlation however needs further investigation.

Post Surgery Recovery

• Five out of the six horses recovery post surgery. This underscores the effectiveness of surgical intervention in dealing with small colon obstruction in horses due to foreign bodies.