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Much can go awry in the intestinal tracts of horses—erosion and ulceration of the intestinal wall, hemorrhage, irregularities in mucosa, and parasitism. Traditional fiber-optic cameras, called endoscopes, reach only the stomach, leaving the goings-on of the entire intestinal tract a mystery.

How can veterinarians and researchers visualize the long, winding intestinal canal? Enter endoscopic capsules.

“Intestinal cameras, or wireless endoscopy capsules, are commercially available. Based on recent research, these capsules are a safe, practical, and relatively noninvasive way of visualizing a substantial portion of the horse’s intestinal system, just like examining the stomach during routine endoscopy for gastric ulcers,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research.

In the study mentioned by Crandell, endoscopy capsules were placed into the stomachs of five horses via a nasogastric tube.* The capsules snapped photographs as they travelled the length of the gastrointestinal tract until they were expelled in the feces. The images were then retrieved and analyzed.

The stomach and small intestine were clearly visualized in the images. However, poor-quality images were obtained at the junction of the small intestine and cecum, the majority of the cecum, and the bulk of the large intestine. The best images were obtained after withholding feed for 24 hours prior to capsule placement. Even then, though, image acquisition was still impeded by feed material.

“The capsules were excreted six or seven days after administration, on average, which meant that the images could not be evaluated for almost a week after starting the procedure,” shared Crandell.

While this technology continues along its developmental path, Crandell recommends exploring the merits of EquiShure, a product that helps maintain hindgut health by fostering normal pH. Keeping the pH of the hindgut as steady as possible allows the microbial population to flourish, which keeps fermentation and energy production humming.

“Offering nutritional supplements that buffer the hindgut to prevent acidosis will help many horses with intestinal issues, especially those that might be experiencing recurrent, low-level colic, weight loss, inappetence, even grouchiness,” she advised.

*Steinmann, M., R.J. Bezugley, S.L. Bond, J.S. Pomrantz, and R. Leguillette. 2020. A wireless endoscopy capsule suitable for imaging of the equine stomach and small intestine. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 34:1622-1630.

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