b'YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2017 AAEP CONVENTION SPONSORED BYGut Health: Preventing Gastric Ulcers and ColicMICHELLE ANDERSON; ALEXANDRA BECKSTETT;STACEY OKE, DVM, MSC;CLAIR THUNES, PHDWhen Endurance Horses Colic:What Vets Need to Knowompetitive endurance riding chal-lenges a horses athletic ability, stamina, and conditioning overISABELLE ARNONrugged routes ranging from 50 to 100 miles. Because of the sports strenuousissues, Nout-Lomas said. susceptible to rectal tears than other nature, endurance horses are at risk forThe researchers found that of elimi- horses. Dehydration might also increase colic due to dehydration, fatigue, andnated horses, 12% required emergencyrectal tear risk. So, the researchers rec-metabolic disorders.treatment. Most of these horses sufferedommended avoiding rectal exams when Colic prevention, early intervention,from tying-up and colic. The AERC dataconducting initial colic evaluations on and proper management during competi- indicated that ileus (slowed intestinalArabians or Arabian crosses.tion can mean the difference betweenmotility) and enteritis (inflammationTo address dehydration veterinarians life and death for endurance horses, saidof the small intestine) are the two mostshould fluid-resuscitate horses early and Yvette Nout-Lomas, DVM, PhD, Dipl.common causes of fatal colic in endur- aggressively with a balanced intravenous ACVIM, ACECC, assistant professor ofance horses. (IV) electrolyte solution, Nout-Lomas equine internal medicine at ColoradoThe endurance horse fatality rate fromsaid. Clinical signs of dehydration could State Universitys (CSU) Veterinary Teach- 2002 to 2016 was 0.026%, which Nout- include a persistently elevated heart rate ing Hospital, in Fort Collins. Lomas noted is lower than most other(more than 60 beats per minute 20 min-Nout-Lomas reported on a study inhorse sports.utes or more after stopping exercise) and which she and American Endurance RideStill, she and Mero saw a need foranorexia, she said, noting that horses Conference (AERC, the U.S. governingveterinarians to better understand colicwith evidence of gastrointestinal (GI) body for endurance) veterinary chairin endurance horses and how to treat it todisease or suspected to have GI disease Jeanette Mero, DVM, of Mariposa Equineimprove outcomes. should not be administered intragastric Services, in California, reviewed AERCFor example, she said, most colickingfluids due to concern of stomach disten-data, including recorded equine fatalitieshorses have elevated heart rates (some- tion and possible fatal rupture.related to endurance competition. times over 100 beats per minute) due toThese horses are more likely to benefit During endurance rides, mandatorypain. However, endurance horses usuallyfrom IV fluids, she noted.veterinary inspections take place be- have superior fitness and/or naturallyDehydration also makes horses tween ride phases (about every 15 miles)low heart rates, so even those with severesusceptible to kidney damage related to to ensure horses can continue safely.colic might not exhibit abnormally highnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug At these inspections, veterinary offi- heart rates. Heart rates of 50 to 65 beats(NSAID) administration. For that reason, cials evaluate heart rates, dehydrationper minute (during a colic episode) areNout-Lomas recommended avoiding status, presence of gut sounds, and gait.common, Nout-Lomas said. NSAIDs for pain management in colicky Elimination is most commonly relatedAlso, Arabians, which are the mostendurance horses until a veterinarian is to lameness, dehydration, and metabolicprevalent breed in endurance, are moreconfident the horse is rehydrated.March 2018THE HORSE AAEP Wrap-Up TheHorse.com/AAEP2017 A43'