Review of 30 cases of peritonitis in the horse

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Abstract
Thirty cases of peritonitis, in which the diagnosis was based on a peritoneal fluid white blood cell count in excess of 10 .times. 109/l, are described. Colic, ileus, pyrexia, weight loss and diarrhea were common presenting signs. Treatments included i.v. fluids, anti-inflammatory analgesics, broad spectrum antibiotics and anthelmintics. Duration of treatment was determined by the clinical condition of the horse and sequential analyses of the peritoneal fluid and the hemogram. In the majority of cases the primary cause of peritonitis was not accurately determined, but 21 horses (70%) recovered. All the horses with diarrhea were killed after marked deterioration in their clinical condition despite intensive treatment. No individual laboratory parameter was of value in determining prognosis, although the 8th (27%) horses from which bacteria were identified in the initial peritoneal fluid by Gram stain, 4 (50%) were subsequently killed.

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