Treatment of gastrointestinal disorders of pregnancy

Gastrointestinal motility and disease in large animals

An understanding of the relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) motility and disease is imperative for the proper treatment of large animal patients, especially as new therapeutic agents become available. However, the abundance of information that has become available in the last 2 decades makes gaining this understanding a formidable task. This article summarizes the changes in GI motility caused by some common diseases and conditions encountered in large animal practice, such as GI obstruction, postoperative ileus, resection and anastomosis, diarrhea, endotoxemia, GI parasitism, hypocalcemia, and pregnancy.

Drug use in pregnancy

Expected drug effects may be enhanced or lessened in a pregnant woman, and the known side effects may become more likely. Possibly devastating effects on the fetus must be considered. In the care of a pregnant patient and her unborn, medications should be used only when absolutely necessary (Figure 2). Sound advice is the old medical adage, "Primum non nocere"--first do no harm.