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Necrotizing enterocolitis in horses: a retrospective study

W J Saville1, K W Hinchcliff, B R Moore

  • 1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|July 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Fatal necrotizing enterocolitis in horses is a rapidly progressing disease characterized by severe pain, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances. This study details the clinical and clinicopathologic findings in 16 affected horses, all of which died or were euthanized.

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Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Equine Internal Medicine
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal condition affecting horses, often with a fatal outcome.
  • Understanding the clinical and clinicopathologic features of fatal NEC is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
  • This study investigates the characteristics of NEC in a cohort of horses presenting with severe clinical signs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the clinical and clinicopathologic findings in horses with fatal necrotizing enterocolitis.
  • To identify key diagnostic indicators and prognostic factors associated with this severe condition.
  • To provide insights into the typical disease course and terminal manifestations of equine NEC.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of clinical and clinicopathologic data from 16 horses diagnosed with fatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

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  • Evaluation of signalment, physical examination findings, laboratory results (hematology, serum chemistry, acid-base status), and abdominal fluid analysis.
  • Correlation of findings with disease progression and outcome (death or euthanasia).

    • Main Results:

    • All 16 horses exhibited severe clinical signs including pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, dehydration, and discolored mucous membranes.
    • Common clinicopathologic findings included hemoconcentration (high PCV), leukopenia with neutropenia, acidemia, electrolyte derangements (hyponatremia, hypochloremia), elevated creatinine, and abnormal anion gap.
    • Abdominal fluid analysis was often non-specific, and while Salmonella spp. were isolated in some cases, Ehrlichia risticii titers were low.
    • All horses either died or were euthanized due to a grave prognosis, with death typically occurring within 45.5 hours of admission, preceded by severe abdominal pain.

    Conclusions:

    • Fatal equine necrotizing enterocolitis is a rapidly fatal disease with a characteristic constellation of clinical and clinicopathologic abnormalities.
    • Profound dehydration, significant electrolyte and acid-base disturbances, and hemoconcentration are hallmarks of the condition.
    • Abdominal fluid analysis may not accurately reflect the severity of NEC, emphasizing the importance of integrating all diagnostic data for timely intervention.