Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with rectal tear - treatment and recovery details
By Mair, T S·Published in Equine veterinary journal. Supplement·2000·Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The medical management of eight horses with grade 3 rectal tears.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, eight horses with serious rectal tears were treated with a mix of medications and special diets. All the horses developed a serious infection in their abdomen during treatment. The medical care included antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs given through injections, as well as oral medication and a special liquid fed through a tube. While six of the eight horses recovered after two to seven weeks, three of those developed a condition called a rectal diverticulum, which didn't cause any further issues. Unfortunately, the other two horses did not survive because their injuries worsened, leading to contamination in the abdomen. Overall, the treatment worked for most of the horses, but not all.
Abstract
Eight horses with Grade 3b rectal tears of the peritoneal part of the rectum or small colon were treated by a combination of medical therapy and dietary manipulation. All of the horses developed septic peritonitis during the course of treatment. Medical therapy consisted of a combination of penicillin, gentamicin and flunixin meglumine administered parenterally, metronidazole administered orally and liquid paraffin administered by nasogastric tube. Some horses also received fluid and electrolyte therapy i.v., plasma and heparin i.v. All horses were maintained on a laxative diet. Six of the 8 horses recovered. Duration of therapy in the horses that survived was between 2 and 7 weeks. Three of the 6 horses that recovered developed a rectal diverticulum, which did not appear to cause any subsequent medical problems. In the 2 horses that died, the Grade 3 rectal tear progressed to a Grade 4 tear with subsequent faecal contamination of the abdomen. Manual evacuation of the cavity of the rectal tears during treatment and size of the tears were identified as possible causes for the progression of the disease in these 2 horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11202374/