Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Di-tri-octahedral smectite reduces diarrhea after horse
By Hassel, Diana M et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2009·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Di-tri-octahedral smectite for the prevention of post-operative diarrhea in equids with surgical disease of the large intestine: results of a randomized clinical trial.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A group of 67 horses with colic due to large intestine issues underwent surgery, and researchers tested a product called DTO smectite to see if it could help prevent diarrhea after the operation. The horses were divided into two groups: one received the DTO smectite treatment, while the other got a placebo. The results showed that only 10.8% of the horses treated with DTO smectite developed diarrhea, compared to 41.4% in the placebo group. Additionally, the treated horses had better mucous membrane color, indicating improved health. This suggests that DTO smectite can effectively reduce post-operative diarrhea in horses.
People also search for: horse diarrhea treatment · post-operative care for colic in horses · preventing diarrhea after horse surgery
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercially available di-tri-octahedral (DTO) smectite product on clinical signs and prevalence of post-operative diarrhea in horses with colic associated with disease of the large intestine. Sixty-seven horses with surgical disease of the large intestine were randomly assigned to be treated with DTO smectite (n=37; 0.5 kg via nasogastric intubation every 24 h for 3 days post-operatively) or a placebo (n=30). The effect of treatment on fecal scores and clinical and hematological parameters, including heart rate, mucous membrane color, temperature, total white blood cell count, total neutrophil count and total plasma protein values, were determined. Horses treated with DTO smectite had a significant reduction in the prevalence of post-operative diarrhea (10.8%), compared with controls (41.4%). A significant improvement in mucous membrane color was observed 72 h post-operatively in horses receiving treatment, compared with placebo. Administration of DTO smectite to colic patients with disease of the large intestine reduced the occurrence of diarrhea in the early post-operative period.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19097815/