Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horses losing weight and having diarrhea - what to know
By Merritt, A M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1976·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Granulomatous enteritis in nine horses.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Granulomatous enteritis, which is an inflammation of the intestines, was found in nine horses aged between 1 and 11 years. The main issue for all these horses was ongoing weight loss, and four of them also had long-lasting diarrhea. Tests showed low levels of a protein called albumin in their blood and a reduced ability of certain cells in their abdominal fluid to fight infection. In two horses, the diagnosis was confirmed by taking a small sample from the rectal lining, while the others were diagnosed through surgery or after they had passed away.
Abstract
Granulomatous enteritis was diagnosed in 9 horses between 1 and 11 years of age. The complaint in all cases was persistent weight loss. Four of the horses had chronic diarrhea. Two consistent diagnostic features were hypoalbuminemia and decreased phagocytic activity of mesothelial cells in the peritoneal fluid. In 2 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy of the rectal mucosa. Remaining cases were definitively diagnosed by exploratory laparotomy and biopsy or at necropsy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/965279/