Why Is Nasogastric Intubation So Important For A Horse That Is Presented With Colic?

Nasogastric intubation is an essential and possibly life-saving procedure performed routinely in cases of equine colic to decompress the stomach and to provide therapy. After the horse is adequately restrained, the nasogastric tube is passed into the ventral meatus, using the thumb to keep the tube directed correctly.

Why nasogastric tube is used in horses?

Nasogastric intubation is used to perform gastric decompression in horse that relieve excess gas, fluid (such as enteral reflux) or gastric impaction. This procedure also used to administrate of fluids, medications, nutritional gruel or supplements. It further relieves esophageal obstructions.

What is the best treatment for colic in horses?

Treatment of Colic in Horses
Medical treatment for colic may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as banamine (flunixine meglumine) to alleviate pain and inflammation. The administration of fluids, electrolytes, and/or mineral oil via the nasogastric tube placed in the horse’s stomach may also help.

What is nasogastric intubation used for?

Common indications for nasogastric intubation include decompression of the GI tract in patients with bowel obstruction and gastric emptying in intubated patients to prevent aspiration.

What is the most likely complication of equine nasogastric tubing?

Performed with the correct technique, equine nasogastric intubation is a low-risk procedure. Nasal haemorrhage is a common complication, but rarely a significant one.

What happens when a horse is colicky?

Mild colic symptoms include dullness, curling up of the top lip, adopting a ‘straining to urinate’ stance and lying quietly. Severe colic pain can cause a horse to roll and throw itself about in an uncontrolled and dangerous manner.

What is the most common cause of colic in horses?

The most common types of colic are related to impaction, in which undigested feed or foreign bodies such as parasites block the movement of digesta through the intestines and cecum. More serious cases involving “twisted gut” can block blood flow to the area, causing tissue death.

What are the 3 principal reasons for nasogastric tube insertion?

Relief of symptoms and bowel rest in the setting of small-bowel obstruction. Aspiration of gastric content from recent ingestion of toxic material. Administration of medication. Feeding.

What are the indications for inserting a nasogastric tube?

Indications for Nasogastric Tube Insertion

• To decompress the stomach and gastrointestinal (GI) tract (ie, to relieve distention due to obstruction, ileus, or atony)
• To empty the stomach, for example, in patients who are intubated to prevent aspiration or in patients with GI bleeding to remove blood and clots.

How do you comfort a horse with colic?

Walk Your Horse – Walking can assist moving gas through the gut and can prevent injury from rolling. Most mild colics will even clear up from just a simple brisk walk. Try to walk the horse to keep them comfortable, but never to the point of exhaustion. Never aggressively exercise the horse.

What percentage of horses survive colic surgery?

Over the past 10 years, short-term survival rates after colic surgery (generally defined as survival to hospital discharge) have been reported to range from 32% to 100%, with an average around 80%.

Does beer help colic in horses?

The only type of colic that beer may, in fact, help with is spasmodic colic. This is due to beer’s ability to anesthetize and relax the gut muscles somewhat. However, since most horse owners won’t know what type of colic their horse is experiencing, they can’t assume beer will take care of the digestive system problem.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an NG tube placement?

Insertion can sometimes cause distress, though is more comfortable once the tube is in place.
Advantages:

• Provides a safe method of feeding.
• Can be removed when not in use.
• No anesthetic is needed for insertion.
• Child may feel more comfortable because their stomach is filled as with normal feeding.

What is the greatest risk related to nasogastric tube feedings?

The commonest cause of mortality in nasogastric tube-fed patients is aspiration pneumonia [25]. Enteral nutrition should therefore be carefully considered.

What is the most serious complication of nasogastric tube insertion?

The main complications of NG tube insertion include aspiration and tissue trauma. Placement of the catheter can induce gagging or vomiting, therefore suction should always be ready to use in the case of this happening.

When is it time to euthanize a horse with colic?

Euthanasia is recommended in these horses with colic of any cause once signs of hyperlipidemia develop (icterus, de- pression, lipids in serum) when referral is not an option. In general, enteroliths might be indistinguishable from an impaction with digesta, based on clinical signs.

Why is colic fatal in horses?

Strangulation/torsion. One of the most lethal forms of equine colic. A twist in the colon or small intestine of a horse which may also cause the blood supply to be cut off, resulting in necrotic tissue.

Will a colicky horse drink water?

Most horses drink 8-10 gallons of water per day. Horses that colic usually have a reduced water intake that may last several days. Warm, clean water should be provided for your horse – if the horse does not drink, try providing a bucket of electrolyte water in addition to the bucket of fresh water.

What breed horse colics the most?

Colic Risk Factors

• Breed Some studies identified Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, Arabs, and warmbloods as having more frequent colics than other breeds, while other studies found the opposite was true.
• Age There is some evidence that more colics occur in horses between the ages of two and ten.

What foods give horses colic?

Feeding grains is a risk factor for colic. Feeding too much in a single, meal setting is linked to carbohydrate overload and hindgut acidosis. Eating it too quickly can lead to impaction. Feeding old, rancid or tainted feed can contain various toxins that will cause digestive upset.

How do you prevent horse impaction colic?

Management practices to prevent impactions include providing high quality roughage and ample, clean water. Providing warm water in cold weather may encourage some horses to increase water consumption. Adding electrolytes to the horse’s water supply may encourage horses to drink more water.