ABSTRACT

Medical Treatment Treatment of septic peritonitis should have two immediate goals: stabilizing the horse and addressing the underlying cause. Dehydration is corrected by administering balanced polyionic fluids intravenously at twice maintenance rate (2-4 L/hour) to correct the deficit, and then slowed to maintenance rate (1-2 L/hour) until the horse is able to drink adequately. Oral fluid administration can also be performed, although this should be done with caution in horses in which the septic process has caused ileus. Hypertonic (7.2%) saline solution (5mL/kg) to correct severe dehydration and restore cardiovascular function is most efficiently used in conjunction with twice maintenance rate intravenous isotonic fluid administration.1 When necessary, concurrent electrolyte imbalances should be addressed by supplementing the intravenous fluids with potassium (20-40 mEq/L) and calcium gluconate (500 mL of a 23% solution added to 5-10 L of isotonic fluids).