Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Peritonitis in adult horses: a review of 21 cases.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary record
- Year:
- 1990
- Authors:
- Mair, T S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine · United Kingdom
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study of 21 adult horses with peritonitis (an infection in the abdominal cavity not caused by a ruptured gut or surgery), the horses showed signs like colic (belly pain) in 18 cases, fever in 15, weight loss in six, and diarrhea in five. The diagnosis was confirmed by testing the fluid in their abdomen, which showed a high number of certain white blood cells. Most of the horses had blood abnormalities, with 17 showing either low or high white blood cell counts and 14 having increased fibrinogen, a protein that indicates inflammation. After receiving intensive antibiotic treatment, 12 of the horses survived, while the other nine had to be euthanized due to worsening conditions or during surgery, with some having serious bowel damage found after death.
Abstract
The clinical signs in 21 adult horses affected by peritonitis (unassociated with gastrointestinal rupture or surgical interference of the abdomen) included colic (18 cases), pyrexia (15 cases), weight loss (six cases) and diarrhoea (five cases). The diagnosis was based on a nucleated cell count in peritoneal fluid greater than 10(10)/litre. Haematological abnormalities (either neutropenia or neutrophilia) were present in 17 animals, and hyperfibrinogenaemia was identified in 14. Twelve of the 21 horses survived after intensive antibiotic therapy; the other nine were destroyed either at exploratory laparotomy or after continued clinical deterioration. Necrosis or perforation of the bowel wall was found post mortem in eight of the horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2368303/