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This article is still under construction. |
| Also known as: | Fecalith |
Description
A faecolith is a hard discreet mass of insipissated 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 faecoloiths 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
Inapproapriate diet and dental problems predispose to faecoliths. Miniture 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
Clincal signs
- Reduced faceal output
- Abdominal pain
- Sings of colic
Treatment
Surgical removal is carried out under general anaesthesia. The faecolith is removed by a pelvic flexure enterotomy.
References
- Bertone, J. (2006) Equine Geriactric 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.