INDWELLING CECAL CATHETERS FOR FLUID ADMINISTRATION IN PONIES

Two different fluid solutions were inf used through percutaneous cecal catheters in 6 healthy ponies to determine the effects on body weight : CBC; packed cell volume (PCV); total plasma protein concentration; p lasma fibrinogen concentration; abdominal fluid analysis; concentratio ns of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, Ca, total CO2 (TCO2 ). Na, CI, K, and P; and fractional clearance (FC) of Na, CI, K, and P . During intracecal administration of solution 1, FCNa and FCCI were s ignificantly increased, whereas FCK and BUN were significantly decreas ed. During administration of solution 2, FCNa and serum P were signifi cantly increased, while PCV was significantly decreased. All ponies de veloped peritonitis during the study. Complications included catheter- related problems, diarrhea. laminitis, and hypocalcemia. We concluded that hydration and electrolyte balance could be maintained by administ ration of crystalloid solutions intracecally, but that complications w ere associated with the procedure.