Changes

*Tachycardia

*Tachycardia

*Nasogastric reflux may take a considerable time to develop because the ileum is the distal-most part of the small intestine.  Reflux is found in 50% of horses requiring surgical conrrection for ileal impaction(35,41)

*Nasogastric reflux may take a considerable time to develop because the ileum is the distal-most part of the small intestine.  Reflux is found in 50% of horses requiring surgical conrrection for ileal impaction(35,41)

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

Usually made at surgery.  Rectal palpation may identify loops of distended small intestine as the condition progresses but these may impede palpation of the impaction itself.

Usually made at surgery.  Although early rectal examination may permit identification of the impaction low in the right caudal abdominal quadrant, subsequent distention of the jejunum may make this identification difficult or impossible. The most common differential diagnosis is proximal jejunitis, and distinguishing the 2 conditions can often be difficult. Because the horse’s condition initially may remain stable and the degree of abdominal pain may be mild, many horses with this condition are not referred for intensive care or surgery for >18 hr. The protein concentration of the peritoneal fluid may increase if the impaction has persisted for this long. Rectal palpation may identify loops of distended small intestine as the condition progresses.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==