What are the treatment methods for rectal prolapse in donkeys?

Rectal prolapse in donkeys, commonly known as prolapsed anus, is a frequently occurring condition in equine animals, and is more likely to occur in northern regions under housing conditions and poor feeding conditions. A typical case is reported as follows:

I. Onset symptoms

On September 5, 2005, among the 9 Jiangyue donkeys raised by Li in the breeding community of Naimenmodun Township, two developed prolapsed anus. The affected donkeys showed relatively frequent straining, accompanied by groaning and teeth grinding, pawing the ground with the forelimbs, kicking the abdomen with the hindlimbs, extreme restlessness, inability to stand still, pacing back and forth, frequently raising the tail, and intestinal tract protruding outside the anus, cylindrical in shape and swinging left and right, with severe edema, the intestinal tract at the base of the anus bright red, the lower part of the prolapse dark red, and the surface stuck with feces and bedding straw. Based on the clinical symptoms, it was diagnosed as rectal prolapse.

II. Restraint and anesthesia

The affected animal was fixed in a six-pillar stock, with the hindlimbs and belly strap tied to prevent kicking, the area around the anus disinfected, and procaine injected at separate points for local anesthesia.

III. Reduction

First, the intestinal tract and the area around the anus were washed clean with warm water to remove feces, bedding straw and other filth. Then they were rinsed with 0.1% potassium permanganate aqueous solution, the annular edema was pricked with a sterile needle to drain the edematous fluid, and the left hand wearing a long-arm glove was used to probe the rectum, revealing that both donkeys had rectal prolapse caused by cecal-rectal constipation leading to tonic straining. During the reduction process, fully coordinating with the animal's straining, 200 milliliters of clear oil were injected into the rectum to lubricate the intestinal wall, and 5000 milliliters of warm water were infused, with the purpose of using water to dissolve the retained feces in the cecum and rectum and discharge the feces, thereby avoiding tonic straining. With both hands working together, the prolapsed intestinal tract was returned into the anus, and then the left arm was used to stretch and flatten the intestinal tract to ensure it fully entered the pelvic cavity and abdominal cavity and was completely repositioned. Then several cylindrical ice pops were inserted at the anus. The principle is that when the anus is stimulated by cold, the annular anal sphincter contracts, increasing the tension of the annular sphincter so that it will not strain and evert, thereby achieving the purpose of treatment. After the ice melted into water, it had a softening effect on the feces in the cecum and rectum, thereby achieving a "clearing, smoothing, discharging" effect.

After reduction, the affected animal was forced to be walked, to avoid lying down and rolling, fasted for 1 day, given sufficient drinking water, and fed easily digestible feed after the operation, not too full. A follow-up visit several days later showed that both donkeys had fully recovered.

IV. Postoperative summary

The donkeys raised by Li were kept under housed feeding conditions all year round, mainly fed corn stalks. Insufficient drinking water, too small a paddock and pen, and lack of nutritional content in the feed were the main causes of this disease. By improving the structure of forage and feed and comprehensively raising the level of management, the occurrence of this disease can be prevented.