Enterolithiasis in a 15 Year Old Dongola Breed Stallion

Abstract

Equine enteroliths are mineral accumulations of magnesium-ammonium-phosphate (struvite) around a foreign object that form round, triangular, or flat stones inside the bowel usually over the course of multiple years. They form in the large colon of horses where they can remain for some time until they move and cause an obstruction in the large or small colon, resulting in colic. A 15year old Dongola stallion was presented with a bout of colic, history revealed that the horse repeatedly had been having recurrent bouts of colic. The animal was not responding to treatment rather it was getting worse. The horse died before surgical intervention could be carried out. At post mortem twenty enteroliths were discovered in the colon.