Evaluation of Physical and Clinical variables as prognostic indicator in a horse with intestinal volvulus

This report presents a case of intestinal volvulus in a 3 year old thoroughbred horse. The horse was diagnosed clinically with severe acute abdominal pain, distended small intestine, right dorsal displacement of the large colon and suspected large colon impaction. Blood results showed increased erythrocytes count, heamoglobin concentration, hematocrit count, low mean corposal volume (MCV), high mean corposal hemoglobin concentartion (MCHC), increased neutrophili count,high glucose and high lactate. On post mortem examination pathological changes in the small intestine were observed with torsion of the jejunum without large colon impaction. This case demonstrates the difficulty in making a clinical diagnosis of intestinal torsion in a horse and the importance of blood results as prognostic indicator in the treatment of colic in horses.