Diagnosis and Treatment of Enteritis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Proceedings of AAEP Focus Meeting - Quebec, 2005

A 13-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse stallion developed acute onset of colic in central Georgia in October. He was found in his stall in the morning with numerous abrasions on his head. The grain and hay that he was offered the previous evening were only partially consumed. The owner witnessed him pawing at the ground. He then became recumbent and rolled. The local veterinarian was called and arrived approximately 45 minutes later. The owner reported that the stallion continued to intermittently paw, flank watch, and roll. His rectal temperature was 101.8F, heart rate was 60 beats/minute, and respirations were 24 breaths/minute. Mucous membranes were tacky with a toxic line and the capillary refill time was 3 seconds. Gastrointestinal sounds were quiet. A nasogastric tube was passed and 8 liters of brown reflux were obtained. A rectal examination was performed and several loops of mildly distended small intestine were palpable in the midabdomen. The local veterinarian administered 500 mg of flunixin meglumine IV and gave 3 liters of mineral oil and 3 liters of electrolyte solution via the nasogastric tube. The stallion immediately appeared more comfortable and seemed interested in grazing. However, three hours later, he resumes pawing, flank watching, and rolling. He is referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Georgia for further evaluation.