Table 8.2.

Therapeutic agents used in the treatment of enteric disorders

Enteric disorder	Prokinetics	Narcotic analgesics	NSAIDs	Anti-ulcer drugs	Antibiotics	Cholestyramine	Liquid paraffin	Probiotics	Fluid therapy	Nutritional support
Gastrointestinal hypomotility ‘hairballs’	√ Essential	√ Except in mild cases	√	In long-standing cases	X	X	In advanced cases to lubricate impacted stomach contents	May be useful adjunct to treatment	Oral fluids to soften stomach contents and to provide water and electrolytes Intravenous fluids in later stages	Provide indigestible fibre Provide tempting foods Syringe feed if necessary: carbohydrate to supply energy and prevent hepatic lipidosis Nasogastric tube as a last resort
Uneaten caecotrophs	X	May need sedation to clean perineum	If perineal skin is inflamed	X	If perineal skin is inflamed	X	X	May be useful adjunct to treatment	X	Increase indigestible fibre, i.e., lots hay/grass
Intestinal obstruction/gastric dilatation	X Contra-indicated	√ Essential	√ Postop	√	√ Postop	√ Postop	X	May be useful adjunct to treatment	√ Intravenous (or intraosseous) fluids are essential	Tempting foods required postoperatively
Caecal impaction	√	√ Buprenorphine	Use carprofen if NSAID is required Less likely to interfere with caecotroph production	√	X	X	√	May be useful adjunct to treatment	√	Tempting foods Easily digested foods, e.g., baby foods No small fibre particles that cannot easily be digested by caecal bacteria
Enteritis	X	√	√	√	√	√	X	May be useful adjunct to treatment	Essential. Oral or subcutaneous In early stages Intravenous in later stages	Hay/grass Excel
Enterotoxaemia	X	√	√	X	Metronidazole	√	X	May be useful adjunct to treatment	Essential Intravenous or intraosseous	Hay/grass Excel
Mucoid enteropathy	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	May be useful	√	Hay/grass Tempting foods