Current Topics in Medical Colic

The list of medical causes of acute or chronic colic in horses is extensive. The purpose of this article is to review 4 medical causes of equine colic with a focus on newer trends in treatment. The 4 topics selected include gastric impaction, gastric glandular disease, colon displacement, and inflammatory bowel disease.

J-incision to approach the cranial abdomen in the adult horse

OBJECTIVE

To describe a modified celiotomy to improve access to cranial abdominal structures in horses.

ANIMALS

Four horses.

STUDY DESIGN

Short case series.

METHODS

Three horses with gastric impactions were treated with gastrotomies. One horse was treated for a diaphragmatic hernia with herniorrhaphy and mesh augmentation. In all horses, the ventral midline celiotomy was modified cranially with a J-incision through the body wall, along the paracostal arch.

RESULTS

The only surgical complications were midline incisional infections in all horses. Three of the four horses had good long-term outcomes; the remaining horse underwent euthanasia for reasons likely unrelated to incisional complications.

CONCLUSION

The J-incision improved access to the stomach and diaphragm in these horses. The paracostal component healed in all cases without evidence of infection or dehiscence.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This modified celiotomy may be considered to improve access during gastrotomy and repair of dorsally located diaphragmatic hernias.

Donkey Internal Medicine—Part I: Metabolic, Endocrine, and Alimentary Tract Disturbances

Metabolic and endocrine disturbances are common in donkeys. This species has an inherent ability to thrive with limited and poor-quality roughage. Donkeys are extremely efficient in energy storage and mobilization, which predisposes to hyperlipemia, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of dyslipidemias is higher in donkeys than other equids, which is more evident under stressful conditions. Diagnosis of endocrine and metabolic disorders in donkeys should be based on species-specific information considering that differences in a multitude of variables compared with horses have been demonstrated. Protocols to assess endocrine disorders (e.g., pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and thyroid illness) are unavailable, and extrapolation from horse data can be misleading. Treatment guidelines for these conditions in donkeys are currently not reported. On the other hand, the typical stoic and hardy behavior of donkeys can hinder prompt diagnosis of gastrointestinal problems, specifically colic, which is commonly caused by dental issues in this species. Moreover, subclinical gastric ulcer syndrome appears to be a common pathology in this species, especially in working donkeys.

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Donkeys are different to horses.

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Numerous physiological and clinic-pathologic idiosyncrasies are reported in horses.

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Data published for horses should not be extrapolated for donkeys.

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Specific reference ranges, doses, and protocols have to be used for donkeys.

Toxic Causes of Intestinal Disease in Horses

Because most poisonings occur by toxin ingestion, the gastrointestinal system is the first exposed and, in most cases, it is exposed to the highest toxin concentrations. Consequently, enterocyte damage is common. However, because many toxins produce organ-specific damage, and enterocyte necrosis is easily confused with autolysis, many gastrointestinal lesions are overlooked or overshadowed by other clinical and pathologic changes. The objective of this work is to review several common toxins and poisonous plants that produce primarily gastrointestinal disease.

Persimmon phytobezoars in meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

Two meerkats (Suricata suricatta) died acutely and gastric bezoars were found at necropsy. Four of the eight remaining meerkats had bezoars identified radiographically. Surgical gastrotomies were performed and bezoars containing orange fibrous material were removed. Histologic examination of the bezoars and persimmon fruit from a tree in the exhibit revealed that the materials were identical. Tannins found in ripe persimmons are known to coagulate in the presence of gastric acid, and the resultant phytobezoars can lead to gastrointestinal obstructions. All four meerkats recovered uneventfully. The combination of interspecies aggression and a diet change may have led to consumption of persimmons produced by a tree in the exhibit. Persimmon phytobezoars are also seen in humans and horses.