Colonic Health in Hospitalized Horses Treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs - A Preliminary Study

Area of Science:

• Equine medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in horses.
• NSAID use is associated with gastrointestinal adverse effects, including right dorsal colitis.
• Longitudinal clinical data on NSAID-induced equine colon pathology is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the development of right dorsal colonic pathology in horses treated with NSAIDs in a clinical setting.
• To monitor clinical and ultrasonographic changes over time in NSAID-treated horses.
• To compare NSAID-treated horses with a control group.

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of hospitalized horses treated with NSAIDs for >4 days and untreated controls.
• Longitudinal monitoring including clinical exams, ultrasonography of the right dorsal colon (RDC), fecal occult blood tests, and blood analysis.
• Outcome recording as ultrasonographically thickened RDC walls, colitis, or right dorsal colitis.

Main Results:

• NSAID-treated horses showed thickened RDC walls (4/9), subclinical to mild colitis (9/11), and right dorsal colitis (4/10).
• Pathological changes were identified as early as treatment day 2.
• RDC walls were significantly thicker in NSAID-treated horses compared to baseline and control groups.

Conclusions:

• A high incidence of presumptive colon pathology, starting early in NSAID treatment, was identified in horses.
• The observed pathology was generally of low severity.
• Close monitoring during NSAID therapy is recommended, and further research into noninvasive diagnostic tests is warranted.