Summary The records of 74 horses that recovered from anaesthesia after surgery for a small intestinal lesion from 1994 to 1999 were reviewed. Sixty‐three horses (85%) had a strangulating lesion and 43 of these (68%) had a resection and anastomosis. Four of 11 horses (36%) without a strangulating lesion had a resection and anastomosis. Sixty‐three horses (85%) survived to discharge, with a survival rate of 53/63 in horses with a strangulating lesion (84%) and 10/11 (91%) in others. For all lesions, short‐term survival for all end‐to‐end anastomoses (91%; 21/23) and for no resection (92%; 23/25) were superior (P<0.05) to survival for jejunocaecal anastomosis (76%; 19/25). Fourteen horses (19%) had a repeat abdominal surgery during hospitalisation; 9 of these (64%) survived short‐term. Postoperative ileus developed in 7/70 horses (10%) after surgery for a problem other than proximal enteritis, and all had a strangulating lesion. Postoperative ileus (POI) was more likely after a jejunocaecostomy than after other procedures, and did not develop after a jejunojejunostomy. Survival >7 months was 52/69 (75%) and for >12 months was 39/57 (68%). The estimated prevalence of adhesions was 13%. Short‐term survival was poorest in horses that had a jejunocaecostomy, but long‐term survival was less affected by the anastomosis used. The sharpest decline in survival was during the first postoperative week and postoperative mortality then declined over time after surgery. A postoperative protocol that allowed early postoperative feeding was well tolerated. The results confirm that the overall prognosis after small intestinal surgery in horses is improved over earlier findings.

Psyllium mucilloid had no apparent effect on sand evacuation from the equine large intestine. When intake of sand is prevented, the equine large intestine can reduce and possibly eliminate its sand burden.

Two mares were evaluated because of chronic uterine torsions of 2 and 4 weeks' duration; both were pyrectic, anemic, tachycardic, and anorectic, had signs of depression, and had an abnormal uterus and contents on transrectal examination. Both mares underwent cesarean section for lysis of adhesions from the uterus to the peritoneum, correction of the torsion, and ovariohysterectomy Both mares recovered with only minor complications and returned to be used as riding horses. Chronic uterine torsion should be considered in mares in late stages of gestation that have vague clinical signs and transrectal palpation findings that are unlike those described in typical cases of uterine torsion. Prognosis for life can be good after treatment by ventral midline celiotomy, cesarean section, correction of the torsion, and ovariohysterectomy.