| VETERINARY |
cases might improve the outcome if a mechanical cause is identified and corrected in a timely manner, this must be weighed against the additional inherent risks associated with abdominal surgery per se as well as the greater risk of such cases developing post-operative ileus. Furthermore, such cases generally have reduced survival rates and are at greater risk of post-operative complications.
Prokinetics
Prokinetic drugs are historically administered with a view to directly simulating contractions within the intestinal muscle. Despite regular use, their therapeutic value in cases of post-operative ileus in horses is currently unknown. This may be attributable to the increasingly evident role of inflammation in the development of post-operative ileus in other species, which may be applicable also to the horse. As post-operative ileus is almost invariably associated with colic surgery, efforts to minimise the risk of colic per se is likely to be the most appropriate strategy aimed at reducing post-operative ileus risk. Many management factors have been associated with an increased risk of colic; these include the following: Poor nutritional management • Feeding mouldy food • Overload of grain • Too much hard fibre (straw) • Absence of routine dentistry • Inadequate time out at pasture • Sudden dietary changes Change in routine • Box rest • Sudden turnout to lots of grass
Poor worming management
Unfortunately, there are many causes of colic that occur despite every effort to adhere to optimal management practices; these include, amongst others, intestinal strangulations and post-foaling colic in mares. In such situations, the prompt identification of cases that require surgery is crucial. Consequently, veterinary attention should be sought in cases which fail to improve spontaneously within a short period of time, thus facilitating the prompt identification of cases that require referral, either for further diagnostic work up and/or surgical intervention. Delayed referrals can have a detrimental impact on the clinical status of the horse, which may in turn increase the risk of post-operative ileus. Consequently, prompt referral of potential surgical cases is invariably recommended as it has a real potential to favourably impact the post-surgical outcome.
References 1 Incidence of colic in U.S. horses, 2001.United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 2 Traub-Dargatz JL, Kopral CA, Seitzinger AH, et al. Estimate of the national incidence of and operation-level risk factors for colic among horses in the United States, spring 1998 to spring 1999. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;219:67–71. 3 Barker, I., Freeman, SL. (2019) Assessment of costs and insurance policies for referral treatment of equine colic. Veterinary Record 185, 508.
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