The gut
• treatment of diarrhoea - fluids po if possible, iv if not
• do not give antibiotics unless bacteria are invading mucosa - they often cause diarrhoea
• vomiting - iv fluids, antiemetics only for persistent vomiting
• ulcers - H2 antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, prostaglandins or sucralfate - not antacids or NSAIDs
• drugs which increase motility - metaclopramide, cisapride, erythromycin
• drugs which reduce motility - codeine
• colitis - sulphasalazine Bloat
• prevention is better than cure
• in emergency relieve ruminal tympany - try stomach tube first
• treatment - polyethoxylated alcohols, check rest of herd
• prevention - good husbandty or monensin
All these problems are usually
signs of underlying disease, so treating them will not necessarily cure
the animal. Failure to treat vomiting and diarrhoea can rapidly lead to
shock.
