TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of diet and water supply on mineral content and pH within the large intestine of horses with enterolithiasis
AU - Hassel, Diana M.
AU - Spier, Sharon
AU - Aldridge, Brian M.
AU - Watnick, Mitchell
AU - Argenzio, Robert A.
AU - Snyder, Jack R.
PY - 2009/10
Y1 - 2009/10
N2 - To determine the effects of two diets and water supplies on intestinal pH and mineral concentrations in the colon of horses, and to identify whether differences in these parameters exist in horses with and without enterolithiasis, surgical fistulation of the right dorsal colon was performed in six adult horses, three with and three without enterolithiasis. Each horse underwent four feeding trials: grass hay and untreated water, alfalfa hay and untreated water, grass hay with filtered/softened water, and alfalfa hay with filtered/softened water. Samples of colonic contents were analyzed for pH, dry matter, and mineral concentrations. Horses with enterolithiasis had higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations and higher pH in colonic contents than controls. Horses fed alfalfa had lower colonic sodium and potassium, higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations, and a more alkaline pH than those fed grass. Grass hay consumption leads to reduced concentrations of select minerals and a more acidic colonic environment compared with alfalfa, probably beneficial in the prevention of enterolithiasis. Under controlled dietary and management conditions, horses with enterolithiasis have differences in colonic mineral and pH parameters that may be consistent with physiological differences between horses with and without the disease.
AB - To determine the effects of two diets and water supplies on intestinal pH and mineral concentrations in the colon of horses, and to identify whether differences in these parameters exist in horses with and without enterolithiasis, surgical fistulation of the right dorsal colon was performed in six adult horses, three with and three without enterolithiasis. Each horse underwent four feeding trials: grass hay and untreated water, alfalfa hay and untreated water, grass hay with filtered/softened water, and alfalfa hay with filtered/softened water. Samples of colonic contents were analyzed for pH, dry matter, and mineral concentrations. Horses with enterolithiasis had higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations and higher pH in colonic contents than controls. Horses fed alfalfa had lower colonic sodium and potassium, higher calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations, and a more alkaline pH than those fed grass. Grass hay consumption leads to reduced concentrations of select minerals and a more acidic colonic environment compared with alfalfa, probably beneficial in the prevention of enterolithiasis. Under controlled dietary and management conditions, horses with enterolithiasis have differences in colonic mineral and pH parameters that may be consistent with physiological differences between horses with and without the disease.
KW - Enterolithiasis
KW - Horse
KW - Minerals
KW - Nutrition
KW - Water
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67349206615&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67349206615&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.05.016
DO - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.05.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 18694650
AN - SCOPUS:67349206615
VL - 182
SP - 44
EP - 49
JO - British Veterinary Journal
JF - British Veterinary Journal
SN - 1090-0233
IS - 1
ER -