FAILURE OF PSYLLIUM MUCILLOID TO HASTEN EVACUATION OF SAND FROM THE EQUINE LARGE-INTESTINE

Objective-To examine the efficacy of psyllium mucilloid in evacuating sand from the equine large intestine. Animals-12 clinically healthy po ny geldings. Procedure-Twelve ponies were assigned to 2 groups of six each. One group was treated with psyllium and the second was a control group. All ponies had an exploratory celiotomy and 10 g/kg body weigh t of sand was placed into the cecum. Ponies were fed a grain mixture a lone at 1 g/kg (controls), a grain mixture plus psyllium pellets, each at 1 g/kg body weight (3 ponies), or fed a grain mixture and given ps yllium powder by nasogastric tube at 1 g/kg body weight divided into t wo daily doses in 3 L of water (3 ponies). Radiographs were taken on d ays 1 (3 per group), 5 tall ponies), and 11 (3 per group) to monitor s and transit through the large intestine. Ponies were euthanatized 11 d ays after surgery. Sand was collected from the contents of the cecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, and small colon. Dry weight of the recove red sand was compared between the two treatment groups as a percentage of the dry weight of sand placed in the cecum. Results-No significant differences were detected in the mean percentage of sand recovered be tween the two treatment groups (P < .05), with 39.2% recovered in poni es treated with psyllium and 27.4% recovered in control ponies. Clinic al Relevance-Psyllium mucilloid had no apparent effect on sand evacuat ion from the equine large intestine. When intake of sand is prevented, the equine large intestine can reduce and possibly eliminate its sand burden. (C) Copyright 1998 by The American College of Veterinary Surg eons.