Association between cribbing and entrapment of the small intestine in the epiploic foramen in horses: 68 cases (1991-2002).
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there was an association between a history of cribbing and epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) of the small intestine in horses.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
68 horses examined at the University of Illinois or the University of Liverpool veterinary teaching hospitals.


METHODS
For horses examined at the University of Illinois that underwent surgery because of strangulating small intestine lesions, information about cribbing was obtained through telephone calls with owners. For horses examined at the University of Liverpool that underwent surgery for colic for any reason, information about cribbing was obtained through a preoperative questionnaire.


RESULTS
13 of 19 (68%) horses with EFE examined at the University of Illinois had a history of cribbing, compared with only 2 of 34 (6%) horses with other strangulating small intestine lesions (odds ratio, 34.7; 95% confidence interval, 6.2 to 194.6). Similarly, 24 of 49 (49%) horses with EFE examined at the University of Liverpool had a history of cribbing, compared with 72 of 687 (10.5%) horses with colic caused by other lesions (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 4.5 to 15.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that there may be an association between cribbing and EFE in horses, with horses with a history of cribbing more likely to have EFE than horses without such a history.
Philip Leverhulme Large Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
Debra C
DC
Archer
David E
DE
Freeman
Aimie J
AJ
Doyle
Christopher J
CJ
Proudman
G Barrie
GB
Edwards
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003085:Colic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior