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Faecal composition in foal heat diarrhoea
Author(s) -
MASRI MARIA D.,
MERRITT A. M.,
GRONWALL R.,
BURROWS C. F.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03636.x
Subject(s) - foal , diarrhea , composition (language) , feces , gastrointestinal tract , biology , medicine , physiology , gastroenterology , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , linguistics , philosophy , genetics
Summary Developmental changes of the gastrointestinal tract were probably responsible for the changes in faecal composition during the first week of the foals' life, which resembled small intestinal ingesta of adult horses, suggesting a minimal colonic modification. Faecal composition at the time of foal heat diarrhoea was suggestive of a secretory‐type diarrhoea, in that the electrolyte concentration accounted for most of faecal osmolality and the faecal pH was alkaline. After foal heat diarrhoea faecal composition slowly approached that of adult horses. These data suggest that foal heat diarrhoea is most likely caused by hypersecretion in the small intestinal mucosa, which may overwhelm an immature colon that is unable to compensate by increased fluid and electrolyte absorption.