FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / The effects of bit chewing on borborygmi, duodenal motility,...
Veterinary surgery : VS2021; 51(1); 88-96; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13745

The effects of bit chewing on borborygmi, duodenal motility, and gastrointestinal transit time in clinically normal horses.

Abstract: To determine the influence of bit chewing on gastrointestinal transit in clinically normal horses. Methods: Prospective crossover designed study. Methods: Six healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were assigned randomly to treatment (apple flavored bit) and control (no-bit) groups and studied for 2 × 1-week trial periods with a 2-week washout period between trials. Horses were fasted for 24 h and slowly refed over 3 days. The bit was placed for 20 min every 6 h. Duodenal contractions and borborygmi auscultations were evaluated every 12 h, approximately 5 min following bit placement. Gastrointestinal total transit time (GI TTT) was measured by administering 200 colored beads via stomach tube and then collected in the manure until 50% and 80% were recovered. Measured variables were compared using an ANOVA or Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the P value was noted. Results: The GI TTT was shortened in the bit chewing group (median: 106.37 h, range: 70-171 h) compared to the no-bit group (median: 170.1 h, range: 149-186 h) (P = .0156) at 80% bead passage (only 4/6 horses passed 80%). Borborygmi (P = .8193), duodenal contractions (P = .2605), and 50% bead passage (P = .0781) showed no differences. Conclusions: Bit chewing was safe, inexpensive, and well tolerated. Bit chewing shortened GI TTT and might be an adjunct therapy to augment GI TTT. Further clinical studies are warranted. Conclusions: Ileus is a common complication following equine abdominal surgery with no current consistently successful treatment. Bit chewing may be a simple and inexpensive way to augment progressive GI motility.
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-11-14 PubMed ID: 34775623DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13745Google 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
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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 investigates the impact of bit chewing on the gastrointestinal transit time in healthy horses, indicating that this process could play a role in aiding the horses’ digestive systems.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The goal of the research was to understand how bit chewing could affect the time it takes for food to pass through a horse’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
  • The researchers conducted a prospective crossover study involving six healthy adult horses. These horses were randomly assigned to either a treatment group which used an apple flavored bit, or a control group that had no bit.
  • The study comprised 2 separate trials, lasting a week each, with a 2-week washout period in between to ensure no residual effects from the first trial would impact the second. The horses were fasted for 24 hours and then fed gradually over the course of 3 days.
  • The bit was put in place for 20 minutes, every 6 hours. About 5 minutes after bit placement, the number of duodenal contractions (which assist in breaking down food in the stomach) and borborygmi (a rumbling noise made by the movement of gas in the gut) were evaluated.

Measurement and Comparison of Variables

  • To measure gastrointestinal total transit time (GI TTT), the researchers used 200 colored beads that were administered to the horses via a stomach tube and collected from the manure produced by the horses until either 50% or 80% of the beads had passed.
  • The statistical comparison between the bit chewing group and the no-bit group was performed using the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, depending on the requirement, and the statistical significance was assessed through the P-value.

Results and Conclusion

  • According to the findings, bit chewing shortened the GI TTT but did not significantly affect the borborygmi, duodenal contractions, or the 50% bead pass rate.
  • Overall, bit chewing was found to be a safe, inexpensive, and well-tolerated practice. The researchers concluded that it could act as supplementary therapy to augment GI TTT.
  • However, the study also recognized the need for further clinical studies to validate and deepen the findings. The article suggests that bit chewing could provide a simple and inexpensive way to improve digestive motility, which could potentially be beneficial in treating ileus, a common complication following equine abdominal surgery.

Cite This Article

APA
Patton ME, Leise BS, Baker RE, Andrews FM. (2021). The effects of bit chewing on borborygmi, duodenal motility, and gastrointestinal transit time in clinically normal horses. Vet Surg, 51(1), 88-96. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13745

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 1
Pages: 88-96

Researcher Affiliations

Patton, Molly E
  • Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Leise, Britta S
  • Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Baker, Rose E
  • Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Andrews, Frank M
  • Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Auscultation
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Gastrointestinal Transit
  • Horses
  • Mastication
  • Prospective Studies

References

This article includes 40 references
  1. Doherty TJ. Postoperative ileus: pathogenesis and treatment.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2009;25(2):351-362.
  2. Lisowski ZM, Pirie RS, Blikslager AT, Lefebvre D, Hume DA, Hudson NPH. An update on equine post-operative ileus: definitions, pathophysiology and management.. Equine Vet J 2018;50(3):292-303.
  3. Holcombe SJ, Rodriguez KM, Haupt JL. Prevalence of and risk factors for postoperative ileus after small intestinal surgery in two hundred and thirty-three horses.. Vet Surg 2009;38(3):368-372.
  4. Durket E, Gillen A, Kottwitz J, Munsterman A. Meta-analysis of the effects of lidocaine on postoperative reflux in the horse.. Vet Surg 2020;49(1):44-52.
  5. Torfs S, Delesalle C, Dewulf J, Devisscher L, Deprez P. Risk factors for equine postoperative ileus and effectiveness of prophylactic lidocaine.. J Vet Intern Med 2009;23(3):606-611.
  6. Gerring EE, Hunt JM. Pathophysiology of equine postoperative ileus: effect of adrenergic blockade, parasympathetic stimulation and metoclopramide in an experimental model.. Equine Vet J 1986;18(4):249-255.
  7. Salem SE, Proudman CJ, Archer DC. Prevention of post operative complications following surgical treatment of equine colic: current evidence.. Equine Vet J 2016;48(2):143-151.
  8. Goldstein JL, Matuszewski KA, Delaney CP. Inpatient economic burden of postoperative ileus associated with abdominal surgery in the United States.. P and T 2007;32(2):82-90.
  9. Wong DM, Davis JL, White NA. Motility of the equine gastrointestinal tract: physiology and pharmacotherapy.. Equine Vet Educ 2011;23(2):88-100.
  10. Holte K, Kehlet H. Postoperative ileus: a preventable event.. Br J Surg 2000;87(11):1480-1493.
  11. Noble EJ, Harris R, Hosie KB, Thomas S, Lewis SJ. Gum chewing reduces postoperative ileus? A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Int J Surg 2009;7(2):100-105.
  12. Byrne CM, Zahid A, Young JM, Solomon MJ, Young CJ. Gum chewing aids bowel function return and analgesic requirements after bowel surgery: a randomized controlled trial.. Colorectal Dis 2018;20(5):438-448.
  13. Liu Q, Jiang H, Xu D, Jin J. Effect of gum chewing on ameliorating ileus following colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials.. Int J Surg 2017;47:107-115.
  14. Su'a BU, Pollock TT, Lemanu DP, MacCormick AD, Connolly AB, Hill AG. Chewing gum and postoperative ileus in adults: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.. Int J Surg 2015;14:49-55.
  15. Giusto G, Pagliara E, Gandini M. Effects of bit chewing on right upper quadrant intestinal sound frequency in adult horses.. J Equine Vet Sci 2014;34(4):520-523.
  16. Elfenbein JR, Robertson SA, Corser AA, Urion RJ, Sanchez LC. Systemic effects of a prolonged continuous infusion of ketamine in healthy horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:1134-1137.
  17. Elfenbein JR, Robertson SA, MacKay RJ, KuKanich B, Sanchez LC. 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.
  18. Gomaa N, Uhlig A, Schusser GF. Effect of Buscopan composition on the motility of the duodenum, cecum and left ventral colon in healthy conscious horses.. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2011;124(3-4):168-174.
  19. Helman CA. Chewing gum is as effective as food in stimulating cephalic phase gastric secretion.. Am J Gastroenterol 1988;83(6):640-642.
  20. Lim P, Morris OJ, Nolan G, Moore S, Draganic B, Smith SR. Sham feeding with chewing gum after elective colorectal resectional surgery: a randomized clinical trial.. Ann Surg 2013;257(6):1016-1024.
  21. Roslan F, Kushairi A, Cappuyns L, Daliya P, Adiamah A. The impact of sham feeding with chewing gum on postoperative ileus following colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.. J Gastrointest Surg 2020;24(11):2643-2653.
  22. Mair TS, Smith LJ. Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 2: short-term complications.. Equine Vet J 2005;37(4):303-309.
  23. Cavallaro P, Bordeianuou L. Implementation of an ERAS pathway in colorectal surgery.. Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2019;32(2):102-108.
  24. Malone E, Ensink J, Turner T. Intravenous continuous infustion of lidocaine for treatment of equine ileus.. Vet Surg 2006;35:60-66.
  25. Lefebvre D, Hudson NPH, Elce YA. 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;48(6):714-719.
  26. Mitchell CF, Malone ED, Sage AM, Niksich K. Evaluation of gastrointestinal activity patterns in healthy horses using B mode and Doppler ultrasonography.. Can Vet J 2005;46:134-140.
  27. VanderBroek AR, Reef VB, Aitken MR, Stefanovski D, Southwood LL. Assessing gastrointestinal motility in healthy horses comparing auscultation, ultrasonography and an acoustic gastrointestinal surveillance biosensor: a randomised, blinded, controlled crossover proof of principle study.. Equine Vet J 2019;51(2):246-251.
  28. Ragle CA, Schrader JL, Honnas CM. Abdominal auscultation in the detection of experimentally induced gastrointestinal sand accumulation.. J Vet Intern Med 1989;3(1):12-14.
  29. Ehrhardt EE, Lowe JE. Observer variation in equine abdominal auscultation.. Equine Vet J 1990;33(3):182-185.
  30. Hudson NPH, Merritt AM. Equine gastrointestinal motility research: where we are and where we need to go.. Equine Vet J 2008;40(4):422-428.
  31. Beccati F, Pepe M, Gialletti R, Cercone M, Bazzica C, Nannarone S. Is there a statistical correlation between ultrasonographic findings and definitive diagnosis in horses with acute abdominal pain?. Equine Vet J 2012;44(1):120-122.
  32. 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;33:84-89.
  33. Laus F, Fratini M, Paggi E. Effects of single-dose prucalopride on intestinal hypomotility in horses: preliminary observations.. Sci Rep 2017;7:41526.
  34. Gomaa N, Uhlig A, Schusser GF. Effect of Buscopan® compositum on the motility of the duodenum, cecum and left ventral colon in healthy conscious horses.. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2011;124(3-4):168-174.
  35. Richardson CT, Walsh JH, Cooper KA, Feldman M, Fordtran JS. Studies on the role of cephalic-vagal stimulation in the acid secretory response to eating in normal human subjects.. J Clin Invest 1977;60:435-441.
  36. Beder NA, Mourad AA, Aly MA. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the effects of the administration of neostigmine and metoclopramide on duodenal, cecal, and colonic contractility in Arabian horses: a comparative study.. Vet World 2020;13(11):2447-2451.
  37. Naylor JM, Poirier KL, Hamilton DL, Dowling PM. The effects of feeding and fasting on gastrointestinal sounds in adult horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2006;20:1408-1413.
  38. Elliott S, Reese RE, Denovo R, Barthel D, Daniel D, Andrews FM. Use of a wireless capsule, SmartPill® to measure gastrointestinal pH, pressure and transit time in a horse.. J Vet Intern Med 2008;22:815-816.
  39. Stokes AM, Lavie NL, Keowen ML. Evaluation of a wireless ambulatory capsule (SmartPill®) to measure gastrointestinal tract pH, luminal pressure and temperature, and transit time in ponies.. Equine Vet J 2012;44(4):482-486.
  40. Baker SJ, Gerring EL. Gastric emptying of solid, non-digestible, radiopaque markers in ponies.. Res Vet Sci 1994;53(3):386-388.

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Patton ME, Andrews FM, Bogers SH, Wong D, McKenzie HC 3rd, Werre SR, Byron CR. Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 4;13(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13152518pubmed: 37570326google scholar: lookup
  2. Marsh AE, Lakritz J. Reflecting on the past and fast forwarding to present day anthelmintic resistant Ancylostoma caninum-A critical issue we neglected to forecast. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023 Aug;22:36-43.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.04.003pubmed: 37229949google scholar: lookup
  3. Obrochta B, Tapio H, Raekallio M, Gracia Calvo LA, Pöyhönen RR, Hagman K, Jantunen N, Karikoski N. Effects of vatinoxan on gastrointestinal motility, sedation, and antinociception during and after long-lasting detomidine infusion in horses. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):212-219.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14499pubmed: 40110892google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.