Danilon reaction - Dorsal colitis and impacted colic

[now_loves_mares]

I just wondered if anyone had any experience of this. About 10 days ago my horse broke her pedal bone. She was on 4 sachets of bute for 72 hours then I started cutting her down. On the Monday (5 days after injury) the vet came to put a cast on her foot, but at that point she seemed fine. However very quickly she went off her food - hay and bucket feed. She seemed to be drinking fine, was pooing albeit with reduced quantities but that didn't bother me as she had a much reduced intake too. I spoke to the vet on Tuesday who mentioned Colitis but said it was rare, especially considering the short timescales, but said she'd come straight out if she didn't perk up.

I presumed she was just "off" as the poos seemed solid, and she was bright enough, and seemed to have perked up again, and ate quite a lot of haylage on Friday. However last night (I had been away since Thursday due to a family bereavement) she ended up with the vet out, who discovered impaction in her caecum. She was taken in to horsepital, bloods taken etc, and her protein levels were low. Basically seems like she has Bute-induced Dorsal Colitis which has led to impacted colic. She is on IV fluids, had 4 stomach washes since 2am this morning, and is showing more signs of gut activity and the impaction has reduced slightly. She is in quite a bit of pain so vet has taken a chance with Metacam (we don't know if the pain is Colic or broken pedal bone) which perked her right back up. She is hoovering down the small quantities of food she is being given, but poor soul had a nosebleed due to the stomach washes and is just generally miserable.

I have been googling Dorsal Colitis and discovered that a non-hay diet for 3+ months is normal, which is going to be fun with a horse on box rest for a broken pedal bone, who also is now never to be given Bute again

Feeling a bit low, and desperately sorry for my poor girl who is being an absolute superstar despite the pain, pincushions, and regular rectal exams Just interested if anyone has experienced this? And also wanted to post about this rare complication, just incase anyone else has the same problem.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Oh hun, how dreadful for you and the horse. It's kind of you to post to inform Forum members because I've never heard of it. I don't have any experience to offer but just wanted to thank you and to wish your girl a speedy recovery x

 

[Zuzzie]

Echo Box of Frogs on this one. Poor you - I feel so sorry for your girlie. I hope she makes a good recovery soon. Keep your pecker up.

 

[glenruby]

Yes, I have seen a couple of these cases - they are however as you said very rare. the cases i saw were bute related - one a racehorse after colic and the other a cob after a serious case of laminitis. Both had successful treatment for th colitis but the cob succumbed to laminitis about 3mths later.
There is a common misconception that Danilon has a lower risk for colitis than bute - it is merely a precursor of bute with a more palatable taste.
Sorry your horse has to go through this, its a difficult one to get on top of the pain as the aim is to treat without drugs where possible. We treated ours with lidocaine(local anaesthetic) drips where possible. Ketofen/metacam/ appropriate opiods can be used if necessary on vets advice.
Hope she makes a good recovery. x

 

[now_loves_mares]

Thanks Box of frogs and Zuzzie, I did some googling and found very little, so wanted to post for that reason. I only found one case on HHO, which is unusual as you can usually find anything on here!

Glenruby, she is keeping the vet very busy! Impaction has now cleared, but as you say vet is trying to minimise drugs. She's on sulfacate to help to line the gut. Regular monitoring and protein analysis. Doesn't help her foot hurts though But it's nice to know she's not the only horse ever to have suffered this - albeit she has had 3 serious conditions in the space of a week, so she is quite an unlucky girl.