INCIDÊNCIA DE SÍNDROME CÓLICA OCASIONADAS POR CORPOS ESTRANHOS EM CAVALOS CARROCEIROS DE CURITIBA

Foreign body obstructions are a common cause of colic in carthorses. The high incidence may be due to poor feeding practices and to the fact that most of these animals live in inadequate sanitary conditions. This paper reports six cases of colic caused by foreign bodies in carthorses presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Parana. Plastic bags and enteroliths were found in the small colon, large colon, transverse colon and rectum. All animals presented abdominal discomfort and hypotonicity. Five horses underwent surgery and one was treated medically. The paper emphasizes the importance of auxiliary diagnostic methods the mainly affected portions of the intestine and the risk factors associated to the colic syndrome.