Page 756 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• A peritoneal tap may show increased levels of protein and white blood cells in the

peritoneal fluid.
VetBooks.ir • If the horse has diarrhoea a faecal culture may be used to rule out infectious causes, e.g.

Salmonella and Clostridium.

• The use of a faecal test for haemoglobin and albumin in the horse’s droppings can be an
indicator of RDC but does not differentiate it from other inflammatory or infectious or
parasitic causes. It is possible to have significant inflammation of the gut without any

bleeding.

Gastroscopy of the stomach is often carried out at the same time to check for the presence of
gastric ulcers.

Treatment

This involves:

• Discontinuing the use of NSAIDs.

• Reducing the bulk of the diet to reduce the physical and physiological load on the colon
for a period of 3–4 months. This is achieved by substituting much or all of the hay in the

diet with several small meals (four to six) of a complete pelleted feed. This should be
introduced over a period of several days to avoid further upset from the change of diet.
Hay can be slowly reintroduced to the diet when the blood albumin level is back to

normal.

• Short periods of grazing (10–15 minutes) four to six times a day can be allowed to reduce
the stress of being fully stabled.

• Omega-3 fatty acids found in corn oil help to decrease the inflammation in the colon and
aid healing. This is an additional source of calories if the horse has lost weight.

• Adding psyllium mucilloid to the diet may be recommended as it aids the passage of food

through the gut and absorbs water. It provides fatty acids in the colon, which reduce
inflammation and may promote healing.

• Clean, fresh water should always be provided. Horses with acute onset of this condition
may require intravenous fluid therapy. Provision of salt licks will encourage water intake.

• Sucralfate binds to the ulcers, forming a protective barrier and may assist healing.

• Misoprostol may be given orally to suppress inflammation. This medicine does not have
a licence for veterinary use and must be handled with care as it can cause abortion in

people. It should not be given to pregnant mares.