Effect of Buscopan compositum on the motility of the duodenum, cecum and left ventral colon in healthy conscious horses.

Seven adult, healthy, conscious warmblood horses were used in a crossover study. They were fed twice a day on 1 kg hay/100 kg BW and 0.5 kg concentrates with unlimited access to water. One hour after feeding, the contractive motility of the descending duodenum, cecal body and left ventral colon were measured using a 5 MHz transcutaneus ultrasonographic transducer. Each horse was treated with 0.9% NaCl (5 ml/100 kg BW; i.v.), and with Buscopan compositum (BC) at its therapeutic dosage (25 mg/kg BW; metamizol-sodium, 0.2 mg/kg BW; N-butylscopolammonium bromide, i.v.) in a control and an experimental trial respectively. The contractive motility was counted in a 3-min period immediately and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min after application in both trials. There was an immediate, rapid and significant (p < 0.05) reduction of duodenal, cecal and left ventral colon contractions after BC administration. Cecal and left ventral colon contractions rapidly restored their normal contractions after 30 min, while duodenal contractions returned to the normal rate after 120 min of BC administration. It was concluded that Buscopan compositum at its therapeutic dosage has an immediate, potent, short-lived reductive effect on cecum and left ventral colon contractions but a minor, longer effect on the duodenal contractions. Therefore, it is recommended for treatment of spasmodic colic as well as spasms resulting from acute simple impaction in horses but it is not recommended for repeated short-interval administration.