The effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the equine intestine

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in the management of pain and endotoxaemia associated with colic in the horse. While NSAIDs effectively treat the symptoms of colic, there is evidence to suggest that their administration is associated with adverse gastrointestinal effects including right dorsal colitis and inhibition of mucosal barrier healing. Several studies have examined the pathophysiology of NSAID associated effects on the large and small intestine in an effort to avoid these complications and identify effective alternative medications. Differences in the response of the large and small intestines to injury and NSAID treatment have been identified. Flunixin meglumine has been shown in the small intestine to inhibit barrier function recovery and increase permeability to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A range of NSAIDs has been examined in the small intestine and experimental evidence suggests that those NSAIDs with cyclooxygenase independent anti-inflammatory effects or a COX-2 selective mode of action may offer significant advantages over traditional NSAID

Surgical disorders of the small intestine

No abstract available

Demographic characteristics of horses donated to the North Carolina State University Equine Health Center, 1996–2008

<b>Objective—</b>To determine demographic characteristics of horses donated to the North Carolina State University Equine Health Center (EHC) between 1996 and 2008. <br></br> <b>Design—</b>Retrospective cohort study. <br></br> <b>Animals—</b>122 horses donated to the EHC between January 1996 and December 2008, and 246 horses offered for donation to the EHC between January 2007 and December 2008. <br></br> <b>Procedures—</b>Telephone and medical records were examined. Data were collected in 5 categories: age, sex, breed, reason for donation, and use prior to donation. <br></br> <b>Results—</b>From January 1996 through December 2008, 122 horses were donated to the EHC (median, 3 horses/y; range, 0 to 39 horses/y). There were 131 and 115 horses offered for donation during 2007 and 2008, respectively, of which 38 and 23 were accepted. Mean ± SD age of horses offered for donation during 2007 and 2008 was 12.7 ± 6.7 years, with 75 of the 246 (30.5%) horses between 6 and 10 years old. Musculoskeletal disease was the most commonly listed reason horses were offered for donation (115/240 [47.9%]). <br></br> <b>Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—</b>Results indicated that unwanted horses donated to the EHC between 1996 and 2008 spanned a wide range of ages and breeds and included both males and females. The most common reason given for unwanted horses offered for donation during 2007 and 2008 was musculoskeletal disease, with degenerative joint disease, lameness of undetermined cause, laminitis, and navicular disease being the most common musculoskeletal conditions

Pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract

chap. 4International audienc