US EPA

1541731 

Journal Article 

Laxatives in the horse - a review of the literature 

Gembicki, N; Fey, K 

2011 

0 

Pferdeheilkunde
ISSN: 0177-7726 

27 

5 

475-486 

WOS:000296039600002 

Laxatives in the horse - a review of the literature After
spasmodic colics, primary impactions of the large colon and caecum are the most common causes of
colic in horses. In many of these cases, laxatives are routinely used in the field to resolve the
impaction. Laxatives with different mechanisms of action and molecular composition are mentioned
in the relevant literature. In clinical studies, intravenous or enteral fluid therapy seems to
have become increasingly popular However, the traditional use of oral or intragastric laxatives
seems to be efficient in many cases and require much less effort and incur much lower financial
costs. It is the aim of this paper to give an overview and summarize the results of studies,
which have measured the effect of oral or intragastric laxatives in the horse. Where appropriate,
results of publications in other species were included. After an introduction of the different
classes and individual substances of the laxatives used in the equine species, the reported
therapeutic benefits and passible side effects in the horse are described. Most of the literature
refers to sodium sulfate (0.5-1 g/kg), magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt; 0.2-1 g/kg), mineral oil
(paraffin oil; 0.5-10 ml/kg), dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS) and lubricants of plant
origin. 

horse; impaction; laxatives; sodium sulfate; Epsom salt; DSS; mineral oil