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Colic in Equine: a Review Article

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Colic in Equine: a Review Article Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2018). 5(5): 185-195 International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences ISSN: 2348-8069 www.ijarbs.com DOI: 10.22192/ijarbs Coden: IJARQG(USA) Volume 5, Issue 5 - 2018 Review Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2018.05.05.019 Colic in Equine: A Review Article Temesgen Bihonegn1*and Fasika Bekele2 1Department of Animal Health, Kombolcha Agricultural College, P.O. Box 56, Kombolcha, Ethiopia 2School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollo University, P.O. Box. 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract Equines are monogastric animals which have their own distinct behavior. Colic is defined as a complex symptom exhibited by the animal when there is any abdominal organ pain and it is the major cause of morbidity and mortality, premature deaths, and is the number one health concern in equine. Its results due to accumulation gas, intestinal displacement, impacted food mass, parasites and also some risk factors (breed, age, management factors) that increase the occurrence of colic. There are many typical signs of colic in equine like, rolling, flank watching, pawing, sweating, elevated body temperature, frequent rising and lying down, elevated heart rate and respiratory rate. Many possible diagnostic methods used to examine colic in equines such as history, rectal palpation, physical examination, ultrasonography and abdominal auscultation. Treatment equine colic can be achieved with decompression of stomach and large intestine, analgesics, rehydration, impaction colic treatment, fluids support and surgery. Some of the preventive methods of equine colic include preventing the ingestion of dirt or sand, regular feeding schedule, regular deworming, regular dental care, regular diet that does not change substantially in content or proportion. Hence, colic is the most common symptomatic illness in equines which leads to middle to sever abdominal pain with high morbidity and mortality rate and also equines are more susceptible for colic than other species. As a result, to increase the quality of life for equine, it is vital to understand the causes, signs, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of colic. Therefore, regular deworming, should be practiced for effective parasite control. Avoid all causes and predisposing factors that contribute for the occurrence of equine colic. Keywords: Colic, Equine, Impacted Food Mass, Intestinal Displacement, Parasite 1. Introduction Equines are monogastric animals which have their Colic is defined as any gastrointestinal pain which is own distinct behavior. Horses, donkeys and mules considered as the major disease state in horses and belong to the equine group. They are found mainly in donkeys causing severe abdominal pain. Colic is a temperate, semi-arid or highland areas. The Ethiopian frequent and important cause of death to these species domestic donkey is indigenous to Africa. Ethiopia has of animals. The etiological agents to this clinical large horse and donkey resources approximately syndrome are several including disease base on system 6.21milliondonkeys, which is 32% of Africa’s and that classifying the cause of colic as obstructive, 10% of the world’s donkey population and 2 million displacement, gas, parasite, and enteritis (Radostits et horses which is 33.5%of Africa population. Donkeys al., 2007).And also some risk factors (breed, age, are the cheapest option for the Ethiopian family. They managmental factors) that increase the prevalence of are relatively inexpensive to buy in comparison to colic in equines (Edward and White, 1999). horses (Kidanemariam, 2000). 185 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2018). 5(5): 185-195 The clinical sign syndrome as spasm of digestive associated risk factors of colic can contribute for system and the major sign is the pain which better diagnosis, treatment and prevention of equine manifested by pawing, stamping, kicking or rolling colic. (Radostits et al., 2007)The incidence of colic is relevant to assessing the rate of colic on farms or Therefore, the objective of this review paper is: stable. Equines are more susceptible to colic than other species due to their unique anatomy of digestive To insight about equine colic and its causes, system. Out of 100 horses in the general population 4- risk factors, diagnostic methods, treatment and 10 cases of colic is expected in one year (Hillyer et prevention. al.,2001;Traub et al.,2001). About 10-15% of the colic cases are repeat cases with some horses having 2-4 2. Colic IN Equine colic episodes in a year (Traub et al.,2001). 2.1.Causes of equine colic Losses caused by equine colic are due to almost Gastrointestinal tract is most important source of colic entirely to death of these animals. Colic mortality has (Robertson and Sanchez, 2010). Causes of colic can be decreased since the 1998 NAHMS study when it was put into four groups: distension, simple obstruction, second only to old age as cause of death in horses. In complete obstruction, and enteritis (Ferraro, 2008). the 2005 NAHMS old age was still the most common cause of death while colic was third almost equal to 2.1.1. Distension injuries, which was second. In the normal farm population, horse mortality from all types of colic was Distension can happen either because of physical 0.7 deaths per 100 horse-years with a coliccase fatality obstruction due to accumulation of ingesta, or fluids in rate of 6.7% (Tinker et al.,1997). The predominant gastro intestinal tract, causing physical colic or reasons for death were stomach rupture, strangulating without physical obstruction (Ferraro, 2008) known by lesions or enteritis.)However, the cost of treatment and ileus that characterized by moderate to severe the emotional trauma to the owners of their animals continuous signs of colic, inmares ileus happens after being afflicted with potentially fatal disease are delivery mostly with unknown causes (Hillyer et important consideration for favorable prognosis, and al.,2008) but the ileus happens due to disturbance of decrease of fatality rate, an early diagnosis of colic is serum quantity of calcium and potassium (Edward and important (Dukti and White; 2009) carried out on the White, 1999). basis of case history, clinical sign and parameter, 2.1.2. Simple obstruction rectal palpation, ultrasonography (Ferraro, 2008). Simple obstruction is partial blockage of ingesta Treatment of equine colic is an art and science in the pathway indigestive system, by food, enteroliths, same time (Sanchez and Robertson, 2014) colic can be parasites, foreign body(Ferraro, 2008), or sand (Hart et treated medically, surgically, or by both medical and al., 2012) resulting in disruption of food movement surgical treatment according to the case, Medically, downwards, this obstruction makes the horseshows tympanic, spasmodic, displacement colic is relieved clinical signs of colic ranging from mild to by surgically (Hillyer et al., 2008). The incidence of moderate(Ferraro, 2008). The most common site of colic can be reduced by restricted access to simple impaction is the large colon, either in horses carbohydrates including sugars from feeds with (Mezerova et al., 2001) or in donkeys (Cox et al., excessive molasses, providing clean feed and drinking 2007) but when small intestinal impaction happens in water, preventing the ingestion of dirt or sand by using donkeys it always very fatal(fatality rate an elevated feeding surface, a regular feeding reaches100%).Enter olith is a mineral stone, composed schedule, regular deworming, regular dental care, a especially of magnesium and ammonium phosphate. regular diet that does not change substantially in These minerals accumulate round a nidus (metal, content or proportion and provide adequate exercises plastic, or gravel which makes tone inside the bowl), it are the most relevant means of preventive and control is usually formed in large colon, then it passes out measures for equine colic(White, 2014).Among health with faeces, or retain causing obstruction according to problems of equine, colic is the major health problem. its size, colic because of this retained stone is usually As a result, knowing and understanding the causes and chronic intermittent. There are specific diets predispose the horse to enter olith formation when eaten in large amounts for long time,such as alfalfa. Genetically 186 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2018). 5(5): 185-195 Arab breed and Arabian-cross horses are more supplied by this artery can be compromise (Reed and susceptible to enterolith formation than other Sellon, 2010). This type of colic has become relatively breeds(Ferraro, 2008). rare with the advent of modern anthelminthics (White, 2014).Clinical signs vary based on the degree of 2.1.3. Complete obstruction vascular compromise and the length of intestine that is affected, and include acute and severe colic seen with Complete obstruction, happen because of intestinal other forms of strangulation strangulating obstruction, accidents such as torsion and intussception, causing so diagnosis is usually made based on anthelminthic severe in tolerable pain, and shock due to intestinal administration history although may be definitively infarction and bacterial toxins that pass into the blood diagnosed during surgical exploratoration (Reed and stream (Ferraro, 2008). Sellon, 2010). 2.1.4. Enteritis 2.2. Risk factors associated with equine colic Enteritis is inflammation of intestinal mucosa, because A risk factor is not important to be the causative agent of microbial infection such as Salmonella, Clostridia of equine colic, but it means that horse will be more and(Ferraro, 2008), Rickettsia, and equine viral susceptible to the colic when it exposes to this factor arthritis, or chemical poisons, enteritis causes colic of (Edward and White,1999). short-lived which is characterized by fever, depression, and diarrhea(Edward and White, 1999). 2.2.1. Species 2.1.5. Parasite Comparing to ruminants equines are more susceptible to colic, because of both physiological and anatomical Ascarid(round worms): Occasionally there can be an properties of their digestive system. In ruminants the obstruction by large numbers of roundworms.
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