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Research Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Year: 2010 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 3 | Page No.: 194-198
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Authors

W.P. Mshelia

Y.J. Atuman

I.I. Onoja

N.D.G. Ibrahim

Keywords

Research Article

Fecalith Impaction in an 11-Year-Old Part-Arab Stallion

W.P. Mshelia, Y.J. Atuman, I.I. Onoja and N.D.G. Ibrahim
An 11 year old part-arab stallion horse was presented with intermittent bouts of colic, severe abrasions around the eyes, point of the hip and limbs. The stallion had tachycardia (110 beats min-1), tachypnea (40 cycles min-1). Blood samples obtained for haematologic and serum biochemistry analysis showed a PCV of 45% and a TPP of 7.5 g dL-1. The peritoneal fluid analysis revealed a clear fluid with mild elevation of total protein. History had it that fecal production decreased and the feces were often hard and dry, two days before presentation. Previously also frantic effort was made by the owner to administer analgesic and mineral oil without consulting a veterinarian. The early treatment involved intravenous administration of an analgesic, a balanced electrolyte solution and a saline cathartic. The colic was refractory to pain and there was deterioration of the cardiovascular variables which indicates the need for surgery. The horse died two hours after it was presented. At necropsy a fecalith was observed in the right dorsal colon with a resultant obstruction and rupture of the colon. The post mortem findings, where severe pulmonary congestion involving the various lung lobes especially the apical and cardiac lobe, gastrophilus larvae in the stomach, chicken fat clot around the chordae tendinae of the heart. There was fecalith which ruptured the right dorsal colon and led to peritonitis. The aim of this case report is to show that a large number of horses like this must have suffered abuse in the hand of owners as a result of unauthorized medications, while other cases of this nature have gone undetected and undocumented which would have formed a basis for developing a preventive measure and enforcing animal welfare regulations in the equine industry in Nigeria.
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