FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary world2017; 10(10); 1255-1263; doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.1255-1263

Occurrence, treatment protocols, and outcomes of colic in horses within Nairobi County, Kenya.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the treatments and their outcomes in horses with colic in Nairobi County, Kenya. Methods: This is a retrospective study to determine the occurrence, treatments, pain management, and outcomes of colic in horses in Nairobi County. Association between pain management protocols and the outcomes of colic with regard to recovery or death was also determined. Data collected from four equine practitioners were organized manually and given numerical codes as appropriate to facilitate entry into the computer. The coded data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2010 and exported to StatPlus pro 5.9.8 statistical package for analysis. Simple association tests were done between various factors and occurrence of colic. Results: The incidence of colic for the 11 years was 3.1%, which constituted 68.0% spasmodic colic, 27.8% impaction colic, and 4.2% displacement colic. Flunixin meglumine as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was used as the only pain management treatment in 85.3% of the cases, flunixin meglumine and butorphanol as NSAID-OPIOD combination in 6.4% of the cases, while buscopan as an antispasmodic was recorded in 5.9% of the cases mainly in spasmodic colic. Univariate analysis revealed simple association between various factors and the type of colic a horse was having. There was an association between the type of colic and the decision-making on the pain management protocol to use, whether single analgesic protocol (χ2=22.5, p<0.001) or use of analgesic combinations (χ2=18.3, p<0.001). The type of colic strongly influenced the decision for performing nasogastric intubation (χ2=265, p<0.001), but performing nasogastric intubation was weakly (χ2=4.9, p=0.03) associated with horse recovery from colic. Type of colic also strongly influenced the need for the use of metabolic stimulants, particularly vitamin B-complex (χ2=99.3, p<0.001). Recovery or death of the horse from colic was strongly associated with the type of colic (χ2=250, p<0.001). The possibility of recurrence of colic was weakly (χ2=4.6, p=0.04) determined by the type of colic, a horse had. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the main cause of death was intestinal displacement and the majority of the horses with intestinal displacement died (β-estimate 2.7, odds ratio=0.07, p=0.007) compared to horses that had impaction colic. Conclusions: The incidence of colic is 3.1%, and the most common type of colic is spasmodic followed by impaction. The most common pain management protocol for colic is NSAIDs, mainly flunixin meglumine, followed by flunixin-butorphanol combination. Surgery for horses with colic in Nairobi County is not commonly done due to impeding poor prognoses. The horse owners tend to prefer euthanasia for such cases.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2017-10-22 PubMed ID: 29184373PubMed Central: PMC5682272DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.1255-1263Google 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.

This research article investigated the occurrence, treatment methodologies and their outcomes in horses suffering from colic in Nairobi County, Kenya. The article concluded that the incidence of colic is 3.1%, with spasmodic colic being the most common type. The preferred pain management treatment was nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly flunixin meglumine.

Research Methodology

  • This paper presents a retrospective study conducted in Nairobi County with the aim to understand the occurrence, treatments, pain management, and outcomes of colic in horses.
  • Four equine practitioners collected the data which were then organized manually and encoded numerically for computer entry and analysis.
  • This coded data was then analysed using the StatPlus pro 5.9.8 statistical package, after being entered into Microsoft Excel 2010.

Results

  • Over an 11 year period, the incidence of colic was found to be 3.1%. The majority of these were spasmodic colic at 68%, followed by impaction colic at 27.8% and displacement colic at 4.2%.
  • The primary method of pain management was noted to be Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) namely flunixin meglumine, applied in 85.3% of the cases. A combination of flunixin meglumine and butorphanol was used in 6.4% cases. The drug buscopan, which is an antispasmodic, was applied in 5.9% of the cases that predominantly dealt with spasmodic colic.
  • The team of researchers also discovered an association between the type of colic and the decision regarding the pain management protocol to be used. This was either a single analgesic protocol or use of analgesic combinations.

Conclusions

  • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), particularly flunixin meglumine, were the most common pain management treatments for colic in horses.
  • It was also found that horse survival rates were weakly associated with the performance of nasogastric intubation, a process often used in colic treatment.
  • According to the research, the type of colic was strongly associated with the use of metabolic stimulants, particularly vitamin B-complex, and the outcome (which could be recovery or death) of the horse suffering from colic.
  • The article additionally reveals that intestinal displacement was generally the main cause of death in horses which had colic. In majority of the cases, horses with intestinal displacement succumbed to the condition.

Cite This Article

APA
Gitari A, Nguhiu J, Varma V, Mogoa E. (2017). Occurrence, treatment protocols, and outcomes of colic in horses within Nairobi County, Kenya. Vet World, 10(10), 1255-1263. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017.1255-1263

Publication

Veterinary world
ISSN: 0972-8988
NlmUniqueID: 101504872
Country: India
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 10
Pages: 1255-1263

Researcher Affiliations

Gitari, Anderson
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Nguhiu, James
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Varma, Vijay
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Mogoa, Eddy
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.

References

This article includes 49 references
  1. Cohen N.D, Gibbs P.G, Woods A.M. Dietary and other management factors associated with equine colic.. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1999;215:53–60.
    pubmed: 10397066
  2. Krunkosky T.M, Jarrett C, Moore J.N. Gross and microscopic anatomy of the equine gastrointestinal tract.. In: White N.A, Moore J.N, Mairm T.S, editors. The Equine Acute Abdomen. Jackson, WY: Teton New Media; 2008. pp. 5–21.
  3. David E.F. How to manage severe colic in the field.. Proceedings Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practioners Vol. 57. Texas, San Antonio: 2011. pp. 284–289.
  4. Curtis L, Burford J.H, Thomas J.S, Curran M.L, Bayes T.C, England G.C, Freeman S.L. Prospective study of the primary evaluation of 1016 horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain by veterinary practitioners, and the differentiation of critical and non-critical cases.. Acta Vet. Scand. 2015;57:69.
    pmc: PMC4596518pubmed: 26444675
  5. Van der Linden M.A, Laffont C.M, Van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan M.S. Prognosis in equine medical and surgical colic.. J. Vet. Intern Med. 2003;17(3):343–348.
    pubmed: 12774977
  6. Fleming K, Mueller P.O.E. Ileal impaction in 245 horses 1995-2007.. Can. Vet. J. 2011;52(7):759–763.
    pmc: PMC3119239pubmed: 22210940
  7. Ness S.L, Bain F.T, Zantingh A.J, Gaughan E.M, Story M.R, Nydam D.V, Divers T.J. Ultrasonographic visualization of colonic mesenteric vasculature as an indicator of large colon right dorsal displacement or 180°volvulus (or both) in horses.. Can. Vet. J. 2012;53(4):378–382.
    pmc: PMC3299504pubmed: 23024382
  8. Mair T.S, Smith L.J. Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 1:Short-term survival following a single laparotomy.. Equine Vet. J. 2005;37(4):296–302.
    pubmed: 16028616
  9. Jennings K.M, Laila C, Burford J.H, Freeman S.L. Prospective survey of veterinary practitioners'primary assessment of equine colic:Clinical features, diagnoses, and treatment of 120 cases of large colon impaction.. BMC Vet. Res. 2014;10(Suppl 1):S2.
    pmc: PMC4123044pubmed: 25238179
  10. Louise L.S. Management of impactions.. In:Proceedings:13thInternational Congress of World Equine Veterinary Association, 3rd-5thOctober, 2013. Budapest, Hungary: 2013.
  11. Lowe J.E, Sellers A.F, Brondum J. Equine pelvic flexure impaction. A model used to evaluate motor events and compare drug response.. Cornell Vet. 1980;70:401–412.
    pubmed: 7460571
  12. Dabareiner R.M, White N.A. Large colon impaction in horses:147 cases (1985-1991). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1995;206:679–685.
    pubmed: 7744691
  13. Adams S.B, Lamar C.H, Masty J. Motility of the distal portion of the jejunum and pelvic flexure in ponies:Effects of six drugs.. Am. J. Vet. Res. 1984;45:795–799.
    pubmed: 6731996
  14. Roelvink M.E, Goossens L, Kalsbeek H.C. Analgesia and spasmolytics effects of dipyrone, hoscine -N-butylbromide and a combination of the two in ponies.. Vet. Rec. 1991;129:378–380.
    pubmed: 1746114
  15. White N.A. When equine colic calls for surgical intervention.. Equine Vet. J. 1987;29:448–453.
    pubmed: 0
  16. Davis J.L, Ramirez S, Campbell N, Jones S.L. Acute and chronic mineral oil pneumonitis in two horses.. Equine Vet. Educ. 2001;13:230–234.
  17. Niinistö K, Hewetson M, Kaikkonen R, Sykes B.W, Raekallio M. Comparison of the effects of enteral psyllium, magnesium sulphate and their combination for removal of sand from the large colon of horses.. Vet. J. 2014;202(3):608–611.
    pubmed: 25458886
  18. Lopes M.A, Walker B.L, White N.A, Ward D.L. Treatments to promote colonic hydration:Enteral fluid therapy versus intravenous fluid therapy and magnesium sulphate.. Equine Vet. J. 2002;34:505–509.
    pubmed: 12358055
  19. Cook V.L, Blikslager A.T. Use of systemically administered lidocaine in horses with gastrointestinal tract disease.. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2008;232(8):1144–1148.
    pubmed: 18412523
  20. Cook V.L, Neuder L.E, Blikslager A.T, Jones S.L. The effect of lidocaine on in vitro adhesion and migration of equine neutrophils.. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 2009;129(1-2):137–142.
    pubmed: 19136156
  21. Elfenbein J.R, Robertson S.A, MacKay R.J, KuKanich B, Sanchez L.C. Systemic and anti-nociceptive effects of prolonged lidocaine, ketamine, and butorphanol infusions alone and in combination in healthy horses.. BMC Vet. Res. 2014;10(Suppl 1):S6.
    pmc: PMC4123056pubmed: 25238633
  22. Scantlebury C.E, Perkins E, Pinchbeck G.L, Archer D.C, Christley R.M. Could it be colic?Horse-owner decision making and practices in response to equine colic.. BMC Vet. Res. 2014;10(Suppl 1):S1.
    pmc: PMC4122872pubmed: 25238026
  23. Peloso J, Cohen N, Taylor T. When to send a horse with clinical signs of colic:Is it surgical, or is it referable? A survey of the opinions of 117 equine veterinary specialists.. Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners Denver, Colorada, USA, 8th-11th December, 1996; 1996. pp. 250–253.
  24. Ragle C.A, Meagher D.M, Lacroix C.A, Honnas C.M. Surgical treatment of sand colic. Results in 40 horses.. Vet. Surg. 1989;18:48–51.
    pubmed: 2929138
  25. Heather A.D, Amelia M. Ileal impaction and jejunal enterotomy in a 4-month-old Arabian filly.. Can. Vet. J. 2012;53(1):71–74.
    pmc: PMC3239153pubmed: 22753967
  26. Honnas C.M, Cohen N.D. Risk factors for wound infection following celiotomy in horses.. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1997;210:78–81.
    pubmed: 8977653
  27. Southwood L.L, Gassert T, Lindborg S. Colic in geriatric compared to mature non-geriatric horses. Part 1:Retrospective review of clinical and laboratory data.. Equine Vet. J. 2010;42:621–627.
    pubmed: 20840577
  28. Southwood L.L, Ragle C.A, Synder J.R. Surgical treatment of ascarid impactions in horses and foals.. Am. Assoc. Equine Pract. 1996;42:258.
  29. Underwood C, Southwood L.L, McKeown K.P, Knight D. Complications and survival associated with surgical compared with medical management of horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis.. Equine Vet. J. 2008;40:373–378.
    pubmed: 18672437
  30. Gitari A.N, Nguhiu-Mwangi J, Mogoa E.M, Varma V.J, Mwangi W.E, Konde A.M, Rashid F. Hematological and biochemical changes in horses with colic in Nairobi County, Kenya.. Int. J. Vet. Sci. 2016;5(4):250–255.
  31. Pihl T.H, Scheepers E, Sanz M, Goddard A, Page P, Toft N, Kjelgaard-Hansen M, Andersen P.H, Jacobsen S. Acute-phase proteins as diagnostic markers in horses with colic.. J. Vet. Emerg. Crit. Care (San Antonio) 2016;26(5):664–674.
    pubmed: 27384962
  32. Pihl T.H, Scheepers E, Sanz M, Page P, Goddard A, Toft N, Andersen P.H, Jacobsen S. Influence of disease process and duration on acute phase proteins in serum and peritoneal fluids of horses with colic.. J. Vet. Med. 2015;29(2):651–658.
    pmc: PMC4895517pubmed: 25644457
  33. Wormstrand B.J, Ihler C.I, Diesen R, Krontveit R.I. Surgical treatment of equine colic-a retrospective study of 297 surgeries in Norway 2005-2011.. Acta Vet. Scand. 2014;56:1–9.
    pmc: PMC4077634pubmed: 24934123
  34. Voigt A, Sauleza M.N, Donnellana D.C, Gummow B. Causes of gastrointestinal colic at an equine referral hospital in South Africa (1998-2007). J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc. 2009;80:192–198.
    pubmed: 20169755
  35. Traub-Dargatz J.L, Kopral C.A, Seitzinger A.H, Garber L.P, Forde K, White N.A. Estimate of the national incidence of and operation-level risk factors for colic among horses in the United States, spring 1998 to spring 1999.. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2001;219:67–71.
    pubmed: 11439773
  36. White N.A. The Equine Acute Abdomen.. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger; 1990. Examination and diagnosis of the acute abdomen; pp. 619–623.
  37. Hillyer M.H, Taylor F.G, Proudman C.J, Edwards G.B, Smith J.E, French N.P. Case control study to identify risk factors for simple colonic obstruction and distension colic in horses.. Equine Vet. J. 2002;34:455–463.
    pubmed: 12358047
  38. Tinker M.K, White N.A, Lessard P. Prospective study of equine colic incidence and mortality.. Equine Vet. J. 1997;29:448–453.
    pubmed: 9413717
  39. Moore R.M, Leise B.S. Diagnosis and treatment of selected diseases of the cecum and colon in horses.. Proceedings of the 11thInternational Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association, 24th-27thSeptember 2009. Brazil: Guarujá, SP; 2009.
  40. Zimmel D.N. Hemostatic disorders.. In: Robinson N.E, editor. Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. Vol. 5. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2003. pp. 335–351.
  41. Naylor R.J, Taylor A.H, Knowles E.J, Wilford S, Linnenkohl W, Mair T.S, Johns I.C. Comparison of flunixin meglumine and meloxicam for post operative management of horses with strangulating small intestinal lesions.. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46(4):427–434.
    pubmed: 24372991
  42. Taylor P.M, Hoare H.R, Vries A.D.E, Love E.J, Coumbe K.M, White K.L, Murrell J.C. A multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical trial to compare some perioperative effects of buprenorphine or butorphanol premedication before equine elective general anaesthesia and surgery.. Equine Vet. J. 2016;48(4):442–450.
    pmc: PMC5033022pubmed: 25772950
  43. Lopes M.A, Hepburn R.J, McKenzie H.C. Enteral fluid therapy for horses.. Compend. Contin. Educ. Pract. Vet. 2003;25:390–397.
  44. Topliff D.R, Potter G.D, Kreider J.L, Creagor C.R. Thiamin supplementation for exercising horses.. Warrenton, VA: Proceedings of the 7th Equine Nutrition Physiology Symposium; 1981. p. 167.
  45. McGowan C.M, Ireland J.L. Welfare, quality of life, and euthanasia of aged horses.. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2016;32(2):355–367.
    pubmed: 27449393
  46. Christophersen M.T, Dupont N, Berg-Sørensen K.S, Konnerup C, Pihl T.H, Andersen P.H. Short-term survival and mortality rates in a retrospective study of colic in 1588 Danish horses.. Acta Vet. Scand. 2014;56(1):20.
    pmc: PMC3998380pubmed: 24712831
  47. Baird A.N, Cohen N.D, Taylor T.S. Renosplenic entrapment of the large colon in horses:57 cases (1983 - 1988). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1991;198:1423–1426.
    pubmed: 2061163
  48. Immonen A.M, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo R.M. Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting activity: A retrospective study of 236 operated colic horses in Finland (2006-2012). Acta Vet. Scand. 2017;59(5).
    pmc: PMC5216577pubmed: 28057022
  49. Salem S.E, Proudman C.J, Archer D.C. Prevention of post operative complications following surgical treatment of equine colic:Current evidence.. Equine Vet. J. 2016;48(2):143–151.
    pubmed: 26440916

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Fikri F, Hendrawan D, Wicaksono AP, Purnomo A, Khairani S, Chhetri S, Purnama MTE, Çalışkan H. Colic incidence, risk factors, and therapeutic management in a working horse population in Tuban, Indonesia. Vet World 2024 May;17(5):963-972.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.963-972pubmed: 38911082google scholar: lookup
  2. Fikri F, Hendrawan D, Wicaksono AP, Purnomo A, Khairani S, Chhetri S, Maslamama ST, Purnama MTE. Incidence, risk factors, and therapeutic management of equine colic in Lamongan, Indonesia. Vet World 2023;16(7):1408-1414.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1408-1414pubmed: 37621536google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.