The effects of isotonic polionic enteral solution, sene plus intravenous (IV) fluid therapy or fluid therapy IV only for the large colon impaction treatment in horses were evaluated. Twenty animals were divided in four groups. Animals of the treated groups had experimentally induced colon impactions. Group C (control) was not treated; group E8 received isotonic polionic enteral solution (8ml/kg/hour/48 hours); group SE received sene (20mg/kg, two doses with 24 hours interval) and ringer lactate IV (10ml/kg/hour/12 hour, during two days), and group RL received ringer lactate IV (16ml/kg/hour/12hour, during two days) only. Animals in the E8 group had hypernatremia, hypercloremia and hyperglycemia. Animals of the SE group had higher concentration of urea, creatinine, osmolality and plasmatic lactate. Ringer lactate IV only, group RL, did not cause alteration in the electrolytic equilibrium. In conclusion, intravenous fluid therapy with Ringer solution alone was the most efficient treatment for biochemical correction in horses with large colon impaction. Fluid therapy was also efficient in minor degree. Sene treatment associated with intravenous fluid therapy had the poorest results among the protocols to normalize biochemical variables.
equine; impaction; large colon; fluid therapy; laxatives
