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Veterinary Medicine
Instructions for Veterinary Clients

Enterolithiasis
(intestinal stones)
From Mansmann: Instructions for Equine Clients

General Information

Enteroliths are accumulations of minerals that apparently form around a foreign object (nail, wire, stone, piece of rubber, etc) in the bowel, usually in the large colon. Enteroliths may be smooth or rough, and may occur singly or in groups. Enteroliths can cause intermittent colic because the stone(s) act as a ball valve, periodically obstructing passage of feed through the bowel. Enterolithiasis is usually seen in older horses and is not seen in horses younger that 4 years because it takes years for the stones to form. Enterolithiasis is more common in some geographic areas, such as California and the southern United States, than in other areas.

Fecaliths are hardened accumulations of manure, usually found in the small colon of older horses. Sometimes these can be reached during rectal examination, lubricated and manually extracted.

Diagnosis

The horse's history and a rectal examination may suggest an enterolith; however, an abdominal radiograph (x-ray) and/or exploratory surgery may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Important Points in Treatment

____ Surgery: Surgical removal is the only effective treatment for enterolithiasis. It is best done before the stone damages the bowel, which could lead to eventual bowel rupture and death.

____ Follow-up care: After surgical removal of an enterolith, addition of apple cider vinegar to the diet may help retard formation of new stones. This additive, however, probably cannot dissolve any existing large stones. Add the apple cider vinegar to the feed as follows:






____ Feeding recommendations: Feed your horse as follows:

Call Our Office If:

  • You have any questions concerning enterolithiasis.
  • You observe an enterolith in your horse's manure.


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