All about peritonitis in horses

sometimes appear to be suffering colic rather than peritonitis.
If there is a penetrating injury to the horses abdominal wall a secondary peritonitis is highly likely. Other cases are harder to diagnose especially those with primary peritonitis where the diagnosis is ascertained after performing a series of diagnostic tests.
Common signs include
As a general rule horses with peritonitis will present with a history of being off colour and with a reduced appetite.
When examined these horses normally have a fever a temperature greater than 38 5C increased heart and breathing rates may be dehydrated and have evidence of toxaemia.
Affected horses may also show signs of pain when the external abdominal wall is palpated and may be reluctant to move.
Signs of colic can also be apparent especially in those cases that occur secondary to a gastrointestinal cause
Secondary peritonitis
This can occur when the external abdominal wall is breached following trauma. As a result bacteria gain entry into the once sterile peritoneal cavity resulting in a bacterial infection. Secondary peritonitis can also occur following perforation of the gastrointestinal tract or reproductive tract namely the uterus as a consequence of traumatic foaling.
Other causes of secondary peritonitis include spread of bacteria to the peritoneal cavity from the blood stream septicaemia spread of infection from the urinary tract or uterus from an intraabdominal abscess from an infected umbilical cord in foals as a complication of the gelding process parasites worms certain viral infections and finally neoplasia cancer.
How is it diagnosed?
Compatible clinical signs will raise suspicions that a horse may have peritonitis but the diagnosis is confirmed following a number of diagnostic tests namely blood work abdominal ultrasonography and analysis of a sample of fluid obtained from the peritoneal cavity.
How is peritonitis in horses treated?
I started Freddie on broad spectrum treatment intravenous and oral antimicrobials and he continued on the