Faecolith - Horse

Also known as: Fecalith

Description

A faecolith is a hard discreet mass of inspissated faeces. It can cause obstruction in the small or large colon resulting in colic and reduced faecal output. The faecolith forms around an initial nidus of indigestible plant material or a small foreign body, such as thread, string or rubber. Obstruction due to faecoliths usually occurs at the narrower portions of the gut, at the pelvic flexure, small colon and transverse colon. The severity of clinical signs depends on the degree of obstruction; the faecolith develops fairly rapidly in comparison to enteroliths.

Signalment

Inappropriate diet and dental problems predispose to faecoliths. Miniature horses are most commonly affected. The condition can occur at any time of year, but is more prevalent in late autumn when the pasture is coarse and water intake is reduced due to cooler temperatures.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

• Reduced faecal output
• Abdominal pain
• Sings of colic

The clinical signs depend on whether the obstruction is partial or complete. Complete obstructions will cause acute clinical signs due to the buildup of gas and ingesta proximal to the obstruction. Faecoliths more commonly cause partial obstructions; signs are milder and often intermittent.

Rectal palpation will detect faecoliths in some cases depending on their size and location. In other cases diagnosis will be made at surgery.

See Colic Diagnosis in Horses

Treatment

Some faecoliths are small enough to be passed normally by the horse, in these cases clinical signs will resolve and the horse will return to normal. Management changes addressing feed and/or teeth should be implemented to prevent recurrence.

For faecoliths causing significant clinical signs surgical removal is carried out under general anaesthesia. The colonic contents and the faecolith are removed by a pelvic flexure enterotomy. If the faecolith is very large it may need to be broken down in situ before removal.

IV fluid therapy and appropriate analgesia should be administered as outlined in Medical Treatment of Colic in Horses.

Literature Search

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Faecoliths in horses publications

References

• Bertone, J. (2006) Equine Geriatric Medicine and Surgery, Elsevier
• Knottenbelt, D.C, Pascoe, R.R. (2003) Colour atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Horse Elsevier Health Sciences
• Mair, T.S, Divers, T.J, Ducharme, N.G (2002) Manual of Equine Gastroenterology, WB Saunders.