Liquid flow and capacity of the caecum and colon of the horse

Abstract

The rate of flow of fluid from the caecum and from the large colon was measured in four Shetland-type ponies fed a hay diet. In two ponies with cannulas in the caecum and at the origin of the right ventral colon, a continuous intracaecal infusion of a solution of chromium EDTA was used and samples were obtained from the cannula at the origin of the right ventral colon. Based on four determinations, the liquid flow from the caecum was 54.2 +/- 1.89 litres d-1. In the other two ponies with cannulas in the origin of the right ventral colon and near the end of the right dorsal colon, a continuous infusion of chromium EDTA was made into the right ventral colon and samples were obtained from the right dorsal colon. The flow rate towards the end of the dorsal colon was 49.4 +/- 1.25 litres d-1, based on four determinations. The capacities of the caecum and large colon after death were 7.0 +/- 0.8 and 17.7 +/- 3.7 litres, respectively.