South African Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015 Protea Hotel Stellenbosch
Fluid therapy for colic - tricks that can be used in the field
Schott HC*
Professor, Equine Internal Medicine
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
D-202 Veterinary Medical Center
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1314
(517)-353-9710 [email protected]
Fluid and electrolyte therapy is integral to successful management of colic patients and includes
IV fluid administration, enteral fluids administered via a nasogastric tube, and oral administration
of hypertonic electrolyte slurries. Over the past few years, economic pressures have led to
increased reliance on enteral fluid therapy for treatment of large colon impactions and
displacements, and even colitis cases. Both experience and recent reports reveal a high success
rate for this approach.
Body fluid and electrolyte balance: Before specific aspects of fluid therapy are discussed, it is
important to review normal water and electrolyte balance in the healthy horse. Under mild
ambient conditions, h