Please tell me everything you know about inflammatory bowel disease

[gf]

After a recent trip to the vet hospital it looks like my horse may have inflammatory bowel disease. The short version is that she's had two serious colics almost exactly a year apart, the trigger of which seemed to be extremely severe nasty ulcers. The first incident followed surgery to remove an ovarian tumor, which we figured was the cause. When it happened again for no reason we started scratching our heads. Went back to the vet hospital and according to the abdominal ultrasound her duodenum is twice is thick as it should be and a section of the small intestine is distended. The colon did not seem to be involved.

The vets could not definitively diagnose her without doing exploratory surgery which I didn't want to do as they didn't think she was a good surgical candidate (to remove the involved section), but they suspect inflammatory bowel disease.

They wanted us to try to manage it with ulcer meds, if that doesn't work we're supposed to try steroids-then surgery as a last resort.

This condition seems to be rare and I've had a hard time finding information-especially about cases where the colon is not involved. I also haven't found any examples where inflammatory bowel caused severe ulcers. I'm trying to figure out the best thing to do for my girl-she's only 11 and from what I've read on the internet (always dangerous) this usually doesn't turn out well. I'm looking for info on feeding, medication, diagnoses, management etc. She's currently eating alfalfa/timothy hay and 1/2 qt of omegatin 2x day, and is on all day turnout with a buddy. I'd really appreciate any and all information.

[Duff]

I have just been thu a similar issue with my horse, a ten year old QH. The first of Feb. he colicked and because my vet was away we shipped him to a clinic 5 hours away. He lost a tremendous amount of weight in a ten day period, but eating well. Never without hay in front of him. He had low white blood count, globulin issues. He was there a week with the advise to feed him better. Before this happened he was on Purina Ultium, Dengie Alfalfa, and eating 3/4 a bale of timothy hay per day, two pails of warm water in his stall at all times. He got to the point where he was over at the knees and they were quivering. I really thought that I was going to lose him. My vet returned and started drawing blood and sending it to Cornell. He researched everything that he could find on digestive issues. The cure for most of them was steroids so we started him on those. I had a vet accupuncturist come to see him and she sensed digestive problems without me telling her. She felt he could not tolerate the grain that Iwas giving him and suggested straight oats, as they are natural and soothing. She also suggested Aloe Vera Juice twice per day as it cools the stomach. He goes off for three days at the end of 10 days of use. His weight is back his knees are normal and I have been riding him this summer. He did not have diarhea although his manure was never hard. It has become more so since he has been on oats. Good luck with your mare. If you need to discuss further, you can post here or e-mail me. Duff

[Obi]

Not sure if this will help but my OTTB had RDC and it was a hell of a fight to heal him. He developed it after surgery and this was before Equinoxx pain medication. My horse was pulled off all hay (too rough on his digestive system), he was put on corn oil, psyllium pellets, biosponge, and equine senior daily. Limited grass turnout. I had a vet accupucturist out every 3-4 weeks, monthy blood panels, etc.
It was hell, I am not going to lie. And my guy was 7 so it was even harder to justify letting him go without a fight. Plat. Performance has some new supplements out there for horses who have had colic surgery, etc. GIve them a call and they may be able to assist you on what you might need.

Good luck!

[Twiceshy]

GF, is there any possibility that she may have a sensitivity of some kind to her hay? The vet that your farm uses (whom I love) suggested this as a possibility in a mare at the barn I am at, and it literarlly saved her from a life of frequent colic episodes. The mare here is well into her 20's, and the BO shares this story regularly, as an example of that vet's out of the box thinking.

Just get in touch with me if you want any more info. In the meantime, jingles for you and my favorite mare ever.

[Obi]

Just another thought that I did not think of when I posted the other day. Your mare may have developed adhesions from her original surgery. My horse started to violently colic; it started 6 months after his surgery (and he RDC was healing). Then he coliced more frequently, in shorter intervals each time. Nothing had changed in his diet, turnout, etc. I finally put him down when the vet on call said he needed to go back to the vet school for possible colic surgery. I just could not do it. Adhesions are a tricky thing and can be a nightmare. I hope your horse is doing better. Keep us informed!