Colitis-X bei Pferden Colitis-X is a severe, often fatal gastrointestinal disease in horses characterized by sudden onset of colitis and rapid deterioration, with an unknown exact cause.

Colitis-X in Horses

Alt. Names: Acute Colitis, Acute Equine Colitis

This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly.

Definition of Colitis-X in Horses

Colitis is an acute and highly fatal disease of the large intestine (colon and cecum). Disease onset is sudden, and progression is rapid. The condition is often preceded by a stressful event. A definitive diagnosis is made in only about 20% of cases. The inflammation can be caused by bacterial infections, parasites or poisoning.
Some causes are infectious, so the sick horse should be kept isolated.

Symptoms of Colitis-X in Horses

  • Rolling
  • Lethargy
  • Repeated Stretching
  • Kicking/Biting Stomach
  • Recumbency (Laying often)
  • Pawing
  • Fever
  • High Heart Rate
  • Low Heart Rate
  • No passing
  • Infrequent
  • Infrequent Gut Sounds
  • Prolonged Refill
  • High Respiration
  • Diarrhea
  • Skin Flattens Slowly
  • Skin doesn't Flatten
  • Depressed
  • Dry and Tacky
  • Red
  • Pale

Treatment of Colitis-X in Horses

Therapy in most cases is independent of the inciting cause and is therefore started before a definitive cause is identified. Care of the horse with acute colitis is aimed at restoring plasma volume, providing analgesia, reducing inflammation, blocking the effects of endotoxin and microbes, and supporting patient nutrition.

Prevention of Colitis-X in Horses

The best way to prevent colitis in your horse is to feed a high-quality diet, remove any poisonous plants or causes from the horses reach, ensure the deworming program is effective and avoid the occurrence of stressful episodes.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Happie Horse App digitale Gesundheitsakte

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.

With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.

The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

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