## Overview Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses is chronic inflammatory infiltration of the intestinal wall. Subtypes include granulomatous, lymphocytic-plasmacytic, and eosinophilic enteritis. It causes progressive weight loss, recurrent colic, variable diarrhea, and low blood protein from protein-losing enteropathy. ## Causes Unknown immune-mediated inflammation. Some cases follow parasitic or other antigenic stimulation. ## Diagnosis Exclusion of other causes of weight loss, low albumin, thickened intestine on ultrasound, and intestinal biopsy (often surgical). ## Treatment Corticosteroids are the mainstay. Dietary management and treatment of concurrent parasites. Response is variable. ## Recovery and Prognosis Guarded. Some horses stabilize; others continue to decline. ## Prevention None specific.
chronic weight loss; recurrent colic; diarrhea or normal feces; poor coat; hypoproteinemia; malabsorption
## Overview Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses is chronic inflammatory infiltration of the intestinal wall. Subtypes include granulomatous, lymphocytic-plasmacytic, and eosinophilic enteritis. It causes progressive weight loss, recurrent colic, variable diarrhea, and low blood protein from protein-losing enteropathy. ## Causes Unknown immune-mediated inflammation. Some cases follow parasitic or other antigenic stimulation. ## Diagnosis Exclusion of other causes of weight loss, low albumin, thickened intestine on ultrasound, and intestinal biopsy (often surgical). ## Treatment Corticosteroids are the mainstay. Dietary management and treatment of concurrent parasites. Response is variable. ## Recovery and Prognosis Guarded. Some horses stabilize; others continue to decline. ## Prevention None specific.
chronic weight loss; recurrent colic; diarrhea or normal feces; poor coat; hypoproteinemia; malabsorption