Acute diarrhea in hospitalized horses.
The development of diarrhea among hospitalized horses is a major concern for equine veterinary hospitals and referral centers. It is a potential complication of hospitalization for surgical or medical procedures and can contribute to the morbidity and mortality of horses with gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of acute diarrhea or colitis, and in most cases, the specific etiologic agent is presumptive or undetermined. This article discusses the major etiologic agents of diarrhea in hospitalized horses, considers factors that place hospitalized horses at special risk for diarrhea, and examines several infectious colitis outbreaks that have occurred at veterinary referral centers.
Chapman
Ann M
AM
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. achapman@vetmed.lsu.edu
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates