Treatment of right dorsal ulcerative colitis in a horse.

The research discusses a case where a horse diagnosed with right dorsal ulcerative colitis did not respond to usual medical treatments but showed positive results when the ulcerated part of the colon was surgically removed.

Study Background

• The study was conducted on a horse that was diagnosed with right dorsal ulcerative colitis, a result of excessive administration of phenylbutazone, a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in treating pain and fever in animals.
• The condition is characterized by chronic colic, weight loss, panhypoproteinemia (low levels of all classes of proteins in the blood), and a high white blood cell count in the abdominal fluid, indicating inflammation or infection.

Previous Treatment and Results

• The medical management initially involved treating the chronic colic and the protein-losing enteropathy associated with the ulcerative lesions in the right dorsal colon. Also, a surgical bypass of the right dorsal colon was attempted.
• However, these treatments did not result in long-term resolution of clinical signs and the horse continued to suffer.

Surgical Resection and Outcomes

• As follow-on treatment, resection of the ulcerated right dorsal colon, which is removal of the affected part of the colon, was performed through a right lateral approach at the 16th rib.
• This surgical process resulted in successful resolution of the horse’s intestinal protein loss and colic. Hence, the surgery effectively treated both the symptoms and the root cause of the disease.

Study Conclusion

• Based on the successful results of this case, the research suggests that surgical resection of the ulcerated right dorsal colon should be considered as a recommended treatment for right dorsal ulcerative colitis.
• This would be especially in cases where traditional medical management and surgical bypass do not lead to long-term resolution of the condition.