Re: gut sounds

[flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu (Flemmer, Linda)]

Tina Hicks wrote:

> Can someone give me an education on gut sounds? How critical
> are low/no gut sounds during a ride given that all other
> parameters are okay and he's eating? <SNIP>
> If a horse is still eating and pooping how dire is a quiet
> gut?

I'm SURE that you will get a lot of answers on this one.  Here is my
take on the subject as an endurance rider, as a zoologist and as a
nurse.  (I'm sure that if anyone disagrees, they'll let me know &
hopefully update <me> as well.)

The gut sounds that we can hear are the sounds of intestinal contents
being moved through by means of peristalsis.  Think of squishing raw
sausage contents out of it's casing... same idea but in a <living> gut,
we hope.  Normal sounds are moderate to low pitched gurgles and
rumbles.  High pitched squeaks are sounds to worry about as it means
contents are trying to move under a little pressure past a blockage
(constricted bowel (rarely), plug of material, etc.).

When an animal is working under stress (our beasties), blood is being
shunted from the intestines to other areas that are in high demand for
nutrition and cooling - muscles, surface veins, etc.  The gut is given
second priority for blood supply under these conditions as well as under
stresses of surgery, hypoxia, etc.  Dehydration is also an issue...
Less fluid means that the roughage going through the gut is drier -
better chance for a blockage of coarse dry stuff than coarse wet
slippery-slimy stuff.  (Not to even get into the question of water
stores in the gut as we travel along.)

I've seen low gut motility early in rides in my horses...  I think that
the excitement and extra effort they put out at the onset stresses them
and they are shunting lots of blood to other areas.  (Maybe not their
brain for the first part of the ride, but that is another issue, also.)
As the ride progresses, their gut sounds improve - especially as they
begin to eat & the "self-preservation instinct" over comes the "herd
instinct" that has them wanting to follow the other 100 horses who all
went "that-a-way".

> So, if
> you can't get them to drink, do you still want them to eat -
> just adding more work for an already quiet gut - under these
> circumstance?

I believe so, as long as the stuff offered has fluid in it.  I see no
reason to stress a dry intestine with more dry stuff (dry hay, grain).
I would offer grazing (lots of moisture content in the grass), soaked
hay, sloppy mashes (bran, beet, whatever they'll eat), etc.  Food
stimulates the gut and improves peristalsis, therefore the gut sounds
improve.  It is important to focus on the important aspect (gut motility
and hydration) rather than "gut sounds".  One is the process that keeps
the horse healthy and the other is just a sign.  If the horse is
otherwise bright, alert, eating & drinking (as much as they normally
do), I'd not worry too much.  Their gut sounds should improve
considerably at a longer hold.  You may want to check them as he goes
out & see what his norm is.

> anything else I can do to help his gut keep moving?

I'd like to hear more ideas for this, too.  We've always encouraged
grazing & limp, wet hay to improve gut motility.

Linda Flemmer