Changes

Assessing the pertioneal fluid can give information about the disease process in the very early stages. Some disease processes such as peritonitis and enteritis produce changes in the peritoneal fluid before the onset of clinical signs. This allows for the early diagnosis of the disease which will favour an improved prognosis for the patient. Strangulating obstructions produce changes in the peritoneal fluid within a few hours of the obstruction occurring. Horses with an intussusception may have normal peritoneal fluid initially as the peritonitis that develops is localised to the portion of entraped bowel.

Assessing the pertioneal fluid can give information about the disease process in the very early stages. Some disease processes such as peritonitis and enteritis produce changes in the peritoneal fluid before the onset of clinical signs. This allows for the early diagnosis of the disease which will favour an improved prognosis for the patient. Strangulating obstructions produce changes in the peritoneal fluid within a few hours of the obstruction occurring. Horses with an intussusception may have normal peritoneal fluid initially as the peritonitis that develops is localised to the portion of entraped bowel.