Page 1046 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

mmol/l

VetBooks.ir Additional therapy includes low dose NSAIDs, antibiotics and multivitamins. Feeding by
nasogastric tube is not performed if there is intestinal stasis (the gut is not moving – known

as ileus).

PANCREATITIS
• This is a little understood disease, which is encountered in the donkey in the acute and

chronic forms.

• Acute cases may be found dead, or show signs of acute abdominal pain. Massively raised
serum amylase and lipase are measured. The disease may be seen in association with

hyperlipaemia.
• Chronic cases may present as dull animals with milder elevations of serum amylase and

lipase. These cases may respond to aggressive fluid therapy combined with nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.

• Pancreatic neoplasia (cancer) has been found on post mortem of aged donkeys.

COLIC
Colic in the donkey may be difficult to detect due to the subtle behavioural signs. Many

donkeys with colic show dullness and lack of appetite with increased time lying down, rather
than the dramatic signs shown by horses. Suspected colic cases should receive a full

examination including rectal evaluation. As mentioned above, a peritoneal tap may be
difficult due to the thickness of the intra-abdominal fat.

• Impaction of the pelvic flexure is relatively common in donkeys with poor dentition and

in those stabled when box rest is required. The signs tend to be very low grade and this
can lead to delayed diagnosis. The impacted mass may harden and damage the mucosal
wall leading to a poor prognosis. Thus donkeys undergoing stable rest should have a

semi-laxative diet and regular monitoring of faecal output.
• Concurrent hyperlipaemia accompanies many cases of colic so blood samples should be

taken in any case of colic causing inappetance.
• Abdominal neoplasia can be a significant cause of mortality in geriatric animals; such

cases may present as colic or show a wide range of other signs.

• If exploratory laparotomy is going to be attempted on surgical colic cases, the vet will
measure triglycerides and pancreatic enzymes as the prognosis is as dependent on the

medical health of the donkey as on the surgical skills of the veterinary team.