Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Colonic obstructions due to enteroliths in four horses.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary record
- Year:
- 1979
- Authors:
- Blue, M G
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This report discusses four horses, aged between six and 14 years, that experienced blockages in their intestines caused by hard mineral formations called enteroliths. Each horse showed signs of ongoing mild belly pain and had stopped eating, along with not having any bowel movements. When examined, the horses had slower gut movement and gas buildup, but their heart rates, breathing rates, temperatures, and blood tests were normal. The enteroliths were successfully removed from the area of the transverse colon in all four horses.
Abstract
Four cases of enterolith obstruction in horses aged from six to 14 years are reported. All four cases had symptoms of persistent low grade abdominal pain and anorexia with an absence of defaecation. Examination revealed reduced gut motility and accumulation of gas, but heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperatures and complete blood counts were all within normal limits. Enteroliths of varying sizes were removed from the region of the transverse colon in all four horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/452325/