Treatments to promote colonic hydration: enteral fluid therapy versus intravenous fluid therapy and magnesium sulphate

Summary Although large intestine impactions are commonly treated with i.v. fluids combined with the osmotic laxative MgSO4, enteral fluids are less expensive and also appear to be efficacious for impactions. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the systemic and gastrointestinal effects of enteral fluids with the changes produced by i.v. fluids combined with MgSO4. Four horses with a fistula in the right dorsal colon alternately received both treatments in 2 periods one week apart. Sixty litres of fluids were administered continuously (10 l/h) through a venous catheter or a nasogastric tube. Magnesium sulphate (1 g/kg bwt) was administered via nasogastric tube before i.v. fluid therapy. Two horses had mild abdominal discomfort at the end of enteral fluid therapy. Pollakiuria, hypostenuria, increased bodyweight, increased faecal and ingesta hydration, and decreased PCV, plasma protein and plasma magnesium were produced by both treatments. Abdominal distention and more pronounced changes in bodyweight and ingesta hydration were seen with enteral fluids. Intravenous fluids plus MgSO4 produced hypocalcaemia and more pronounced changes in plasma protein. These results indicate that enteral fluid therapy is more effective in promoting ingesta hydration and produces less pronounced systemic effects than i.v. fluid therapy plus MgSO4.