title: Comparison of psyllium feeding at home and nasogastric intubation of psyllium and magnesium sulfate in the hospital as a treatment for naturally occurring colonic sand (geosediment) accumulations in horses: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ingestion of geosediment (further referred as sand) may cause weight loss, diarrhea and acute or recurrent colic in horses. Our aim was to compare the efficacy of three treatment protocols in clearing colonic sand accumulations in clinical patients. This retrospective clinical study consisted of 1097 horses and ponies, which were radiographed for the presence of colonic sand. Horses included to the study (n = 246) were displaying areas of sand in the radiographs of ≥75 cm2and were treated medically monitoring the response with radiographs. The horses were assigned into three groups based on the given treatment: Group 1 was fed psyllium [1 g/kg body weight (BW)] daily at home for a minimum of 10 days (n = 57); Group 2 was treated once with psyllium or magnesium sulfate by nasogastric tubing followed by daily feeding of psyllium (1 g/kg BW) at home for a minimum of 10 days (n = 19), and Group 3 was treated by daily nasogastric tubing for 3-7 days with psyllium and/or magnesium sulfate (1 g of each/kg BW) (n = 170).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial area of sand did not differ significantly between the treatments. Group 3 had significantly less residual sand than Groups 1 and 2, and the proportion of resolved horses was higher in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily nasogastric tubing with psyllium and/or magnesium sulfate for 3-7 days removes large accumulations of sand from the colon in horses more effectively than feeding psyllium for at least 10 days.
authors.affiliation: Oulu Equine Clinic (Previously Evidensia Equine Clinic Oulu), Äimänrautiontie 5, 90400, Oulu, Finland. ritukaikkonen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaikkonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Koetilankuja 1, P. O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niinistö
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Koetilankuja 1, P. O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Koetilankuja 1, P. O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raekallio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000662:veterinary*; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011859:Radiography / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D011620:Psyllium