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Right dorsal colitis.
Abstract: Moderate to severe ulcerative colitis of the right dorsal colon was diagnosed by necropsy or by exploratory celiotomy and biopsy in 13 horses with a primary clinical complaint of either colic, diarrhea, or weight loss. Clinical signs varied from acute fulminating diarrhea (possibly with fever), colic, dehydration, endotoxic shock and death, to a chronic condition manifested by mild intermittent colic up to several months in duration, and weight loss with or without mild diarrhea. In a large percentage of the horses, those affected had been hypovolemic and received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) or had received inappropriately high doses of phenylbutazone before the onset of illness. Experimental treatment of two horses with high doses of a phenylbutazone oral paste preparation (6 gm once daily for 5 days) and limitation of their water intake to approximately one half of maintenance requirement (for 5 days) resulted in reproduction of ulcerative colitis involving only the right dorsal colon, which was apparent at necropsy examination 11 and 15 days after initiation of drug use. It was concluded that localized ulcerative lesions in the right dorsal colon may be a previously unreported manifestation of toxicity due to the administration of NSAID.
Publication Date: 1990-09-01 PubMed ID: 2262926DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1990.tb03117.xGoogle 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.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores a form of ulcerative colitis in horses, often resulting from the misuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which typically presents as colic, diarrhea, or weight loss. The research also documents an experiment where these conclusions were tested by artificially inducing these conditions in horses.
Study Background and Purpose
- The researchers conducted clinical observations and exploratory investigations on 13 horses that showed pronounced signs of colic, diarrhea, or weight loss. The main goal was to understand the root causes of these ailments often diagnosed as moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, specifically in the right dorsal colon of the horse.
Clinical Observations
- In observed horses, this colitis presented in two main forms. One was an acute condition characterized by severe diarrhea (sometimes accompanied by fever), colic, dehydration, endotoxic shock, and in some cases, death. On the other hand, the condition also took a more chronic, long-term form, where mild, recurrent colic, weight loss, and occasional mild diarrhea were noticed.
- Interestingly, before developing these symptoms, these horses, in most cases, have either been hypovolemic or have been exposed to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) or large doses of phenylbutazone.
Experimental Procedure and Findings
- To substantiate their hypothesis about the linkage between NSAIDs and this specific form of colitis, the researchers conducted an experimental trial on two horses.
- These two horses were given high doses of a phenylbutazone oral paste (6 gm once daily for 5 days) and their water intake was reduced to half the maintenance requirement for the same period. The aim was to mimic conditions preceding the onset of the illness as noticed in the observation phase.
- Necropsy examinations conducted 11 and 15 days after initiating the drug use revealed ulcerative colitis limited only to the right dorsal colon, thereby reproducing the observed ailment under controlled conditions.
Conclusions
- Basing on both observational and experimental evidence, the researchers concluded that localized ulcerative lesions in the right dorsal colon could likely be a hitherto unreported side effect of NSAID administration in horses, leading to the observed signs of illness.
- This study is hence significant in shedding light on potential negative effects of NSAIDs and providing a direction for better administration guidelines of such drugs in veterinary practice.
Cite This Article
APA
Karcher LF, Dill SG, Anderson WI, King JM.
(1990).
Right dorsal colitis.
J Vet Intern Med, 4(5), 247-253.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1990.tb03117.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Clonixin / adverse effects
- Clonixin / analogs & derivatives
- Colic / veterinary
- Colitis, Ulcerative / chemically induced
- Colitis, Ulcerative / pathology
- Colitis, Ulcerative / veterinary
- Colon / pathology
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Phenylbutazone / adverse effects
- Weight Loss
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
- Tesena P, Vinijkumthorn R, Preuksathaporn T, Piyakul P, Chotikaprakal T, Sirireugwipas R, Wong-Aree K, Prapaiwan N. Evaluation of gastrointestinal tract lesions and serum malondialdehyde levels after repeated oral administration of phenylbutazone in horses. Vet Res Commun 2024 Aug;48(4):2343-2355.
- Flood J, Byrne D, Bauquier J, Agne GF, Wise JC, Medina-Torres CE, Wood K, Sullivan O, Stewart AJ. Right dorsal colitis in horses: A multicenter retrospective study of 35 cases. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Nov-Dec;37(6):2535-2543.
- Flood J, Stewart AJ. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Associated Toxicities in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 26;12(21).
- Stöckle SD, Kannapin DA, Kauter AML, Lübke-Becker A, Walther B, Merle R, Gehlen H. A Pilot Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing a Short-Term Perioperative Prophylaxis Regimen to a Long-Term Standard Protocol in Equine Colic Surgery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 May 16;10(5).
- Braucke AFGV, Frederiksen NL, Berg LC, Aarsvold S, Müller FC, Boesen MP, Lindegaard C. Identification and Quantification of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in Equine Articular Tissue. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 18;10(3).
- Bradley T, Kuraoka M, Yeh CH, Tian M, Chen H, Cain DW, Chen X, Cheng C, Ellebedy AH, Parks R, Barr M, Sutherland LL, Scearce RM, Bowman CM, Bouton-Verville H, Santra S, Wiehe K, Lewis MG, Ogbe A, Borrow P, Montefiori D, Bonsignori M, Anthony Moody M, Verkoczy L, Saunders KO, Ahmed R, Mascola JR, Kelsoe G, Alt FW, Haynes BF. Immune checkpoint modulation enhances HIV-1 antibody induction. Nat Commun 2020 Feb 19;11(1):948.
- Silver K, Littlejohn A, Thomas L, Bawa B, Lillich JD. Suppression of calpain expression by NSAIDs is associated with inhibition of cell migration in rat duodenum. Toxicology 2017 May 15;383:1-12.
- Silver K, Littlejohn A, Thomas L, Marsh E, Lillich JD. Inhibition of Kv channel expression by NSAIDs depolarizes membrane potential and inhibits cell migration by disrupting calpain signaling. Biochem Pharmacol 2015 Dec 15;98(4):614-28.
- Galvin N, Dillon H, McGovern F. Right dorsal colitis in the horse: minireview and reports on three cases in Ireland. Ir Vet J 2004 Aug 1;57(8):467-73.
- Silver K, Leloup L, Freeman LC, Wells A, Lillich JD. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit calpain activity and membrane localization of calpain 2 protease. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2010 Dec;42(12):2030-6.
- Freeman LC, Narvaez DF, McCoy A, von Stein FB, Young S, Silver K, Ganta S, Koch D, Hunter R, Gilmour RF, Lillich JD. Depolarization and decreased surface expression of K+ channels contribute to NSAID-inhibition of intestinal restitution. Biochem Pharmacol 2007 Jun 30;74(1):74-85.
- Torske K, Lofstedt J, Miller L, Horney B. Dysuria and stranguria associated with colonic ulceration and abdominal abscess in a horse. Can Vet J 1992 Dec;33(12):809-11.
- Vieth M. [NSAID-colonopathy]. Pathologe 2006 Feb;27(1):65-72.
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