Inflammatory bowel disease in horses: 11 cases (1988-1998)

Objective-To determine clinical and surgical abnormalities in, and long-ter m outcome of, horses that undergo surgery because of colic secondary to inf lammatory bowel disease (IBD). Design-Retrospective study. Animals-11 horses. Procedure-Medical records of horses that had undergone abdominal surgery an d in which IBD had been diagnosed on the basis of histologic examination of intestinal biopsy specimens were reviewed. Results-5 horses were examined because of acute colic and 6 were examined b ecause of chronic colic. At surgery, all ii horses had edematous or hemorrh agic bowel segments suggestive of IBD. In addition, 6 horses had circumfere ntial mural bands (CMB) causing constriction of the small (4 horses) or lar ge (2) intestine. intestinal resections were performed in 7 horses. All 11 horses survived surgery and were discharged from the hospital; 10 horses we re still alive at the time of follow-up (1.5 to 7 years after surgery). Clinical implications-Results suggest that IBD is an uncommon cause of coli c in horses. Surgical resection of segments of intestine with constrictive CMB may relieve clinical signs of colic. Horses with IBD that had surgery h ad a good prognosis for longterm survival.