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Nutritional management in a horse after caecocolic intussusception with a large partial typhlectomy
Author(s) -
Wambacq Wendy An,
Paulussen Ellen,
Lefère Laurence,
Bergen Thomas,
Hesta Myriam
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1136/vetreccr-2016-000307
Subject(s) - medicine , exploratory laparotomy , intussusception (medical disorder) , laparotomy , horse , surgery , intensive care medicine , paleontology , biology
A 17‐year‐old Haflinger gelding was referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation and treatment of acute colic. Clinical examination resulted in a presumptive diagnosis of caecocolic intussusception, which was confirmed by exploratory laparotomy. Due to severe compromise of the caecal apex wall, a partial typhlectomy was performed. Information about optimal nutritional management of typhlectomised horses is unfortunately rather limited. While immediate postsurgical support focuses on maintaining current bodyweight, the long‐term goal is to obtain and maintain an optimal body condition score. In this case, postoperative nutritional support focused initially on a low‐bulk diet that would be primarily digested in the small intestine, while providing sufficient fibre to provide colonocytes with an energy source. One month after surgery, a slow transition towards a more traditional diet containing long‐stem roughage was made. This is the first case report describing a detailed successful nutritional approach up until six months postoperatively.