Ulceration and stricture of the right dorsal colon after phenylbutazone administration in four horses.

This research article investigates four cases of ulceration and stricture in the right dorsal colon of horses, which were associated with administration of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), phenylbutazone. The study provides insights about various symptoms, the diagnosis process and the treatment approach in each case.

An Overview of the Cases

• The article presents four cases in which horses experienced ulceration and stricture in the right dorsal colon, a medical condition attributed to NSAID toxicosis. The NSAID drug at the center of this investigation is phenylbutazone.
• The use of phenylbutazone was common to all four cases. In three out of the four horses, an overdose beyond recommended levels was administered. For the fourth, the dose was only slightly above the recommended amount but was given in combination with other NSAIDs.

Presenting Symptoms

• All four horses demonstrated similar symptoms indicative of the condition. These included intermittent low-grade colic, weight loss, and ventral edema, which is swelling in the lower parts of the body.
• Three of the horses also showed signs of diarrhea.
• Each horse exhibited hypoproteinaemia and severe hypoalbuminaemia, causing low levels of proteins in the bloodstream, specifically albumin, and hyperfibrinogenaemia, which is high levels of fibrinogen, a protein that helps in the clotting of blood.

Diagnosis and Outcomes

• Diagnoses were established through exploratory celiotomy, a surgical procedure that allows access to the abdominal cavity, and necropsy, a post-mortem examination, in two cases each.
• Regarding treatment outcomes, one of the horses was euthanized during surgery, while another one recovered after medical treatment and showed normal symptoms a year following the surgery.
• The medical treatment for the successful case involved a diet of low-roughage pelleted ration, corn oil, psyllium mucilloid, which is used as a bulk-forming laxative, and ceased NSAID administration.