MANEJO ALIMENTAR PRÉ E PÓS-OPERATÓRIO EM CAVALOS DE HIPISMO COM SÍNDROME CÓLICA E ENCAMINHADOS PARA A LAPAROTOMIA

Abstract

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the pre- and postoperative feeding management, therapeutic protocol and complications exhibited during the hospitalization period of four equestrian horses with colic syndrome and referred to laparotomy. While one of the horses had nephrosplenic entrapment, the other three showed  impaction colic , reflecting the relevance of feeding as a risk factor for this disease .  The consumption of flaxseed had no significant effect on the prevention of colic. There seems to be a close relationship between better postoperative clinical outcome and: (1) greater variability of concentrates and fiber preoperatively, (2) absence of postoperative complications, (3) lower use of medications during the recovery period, and (4) higher daily frequency of postoperative food supply. The postoperative feeding management instituted for all horses, although different from each other, was equally progressive in quantity during the recovery period, reflecting the importance of using individualized strategies, since all horses showed positive progression , although at different occasions.. It is concluded that adopting a good feed management system for equestrian horses is as important in the prevention of colic as in the recovery period.