Abstract
Right dorsal colitis (RDC) is an ulcerative inflammatory bowel disorder of the horse that has been associated with the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly in horses treated when dehydrated or toxaemic. The acute form of RDC may result in profuse diarrhoea, severe colic, dehydration, endotoxic shock and even death; the chronic form may be manifest by mild to moderate intermittent colic, ventral oedema and weight loss with or without diarrhoea. The most consistent laboratory findings are anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and hypocalcaemia. Medical management of RDC requires avoidance of NSAIDs, of stressful experiences and of large-volume diets. Specific medications such as sucralfate and metronidazole have been used to treat RDC in the horse. The use of dietary additions such as psyllium and corn oil has been mentioned in the literature.RDC has not been reported previously in Ireland or Britain; here we report that the condition was diagnosed in three horses in Ireland on the bases of a history of phenylbutazone therapy, clinical signs, clinical pathology and ultrasonography. In two of the three horses the diagnosis was confirmed by direct inspection of the affected colon at celiotomy.
Highlights
Right dorsal colitis is a specific type of protein-losing, ulcerative inflammatory bowel disorder of the horse that has been associated with the administration of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), most commonly phenylbutazone (Karcher et al, 1990)
The diagnoses of right dorsal colitis were based on the history of phenylbutazone administration, together with the clinical signs, clinical pathology and ultrasonography
In horses 2 and 3 direct visualization of the affected colon at celiotomy enabled confirmation of the diagnosis and exclusion of other possible causes of the clinical signs exhibited by the animals
Summary
Right dorsal colitis is a specific type of protein-losing, ulcerative inflammatory bowel disorder of the horse that has been associated with the administration of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), most commonly phenylbutazone (Karcher et al, 1990). Peer reviewed that is responsible for the production of the prostaglandins associated with inflammation Drugs such as phenylbutazone, which cause proportionately more inhibition of COX-1 than of COX-2, may cause a reduction in cytoprotective effects mediated by prostaglandin E2, resulting in hypoxic or ischaemic damage to the mucosa (Griswold and Adams, 1996). Other anti-ulcer medications like histamine2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors are unlikely to be effective in the treatment of RDC as their function is to decrease gastric acidity (Cohen et al, 1995b). They may have a role in treating concurrent gastric ulceration. 3 10 Mare half breed Weight loss, intermittent colic and diarrhoea. 180 20 precise data not available
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