Gastroscopes
Gastric ulcers can be a problem for some horses. The issue can be identifying the problem and then starting a treatment plan, combined with regular follow ups to assess response to treatment.
When we look at gastric ulcers there are two main types that need to be assessed:
Equine Squamous Gastric Disease- these are the type that affect the squamous portion of the stomach
Equine Glandular Gastric Disease- This affects the portion called the pylorus most commonly.
Gastric Ulcers on the lesser curvature.
Equine Squamous Gastric Disease
Squamous Gastric Disease is characterised by ulceration of the top third of the stomach, the white portion of this image.
These type of ulcers can form very quickly and are often associated with changes in appetite, poor performance and slow eating. It has been seen some changes in attitude with this type of ulcers, but often some will present with no behaviours changes. There has been a link to horses without access to daytime grass or hay or water deprivation. Treatment involves some management changes combined with drug therapy.
Assessment of the pylorus.
Equine Glandular Gastric Disease.
These are ulcers that form on the mucosal portion of the stomach and most likely seen as we leave the stomach and head in to the duodenum and small intestines.
A normal equine stomach has a mucous covering which protects this area from stomach acid. So the prevalence of this disease is thought to be linked to a breakdown in mucous production.
Signs of these ulcers can be vary variable, from loosing weight, changes in appetite. Some horses have resented having girth’s done up, but this is not a consistent finding.
Treatment is often prolonged and requires a multi drug therapy. The use of the usual ulcer meds is not enough and shows a very poor response to treatment.
As we know more and more about gastric issues it can already be seen that the regular assessment of the equine stomach is very important to not only diagnose the problem but also to monitor response to treatment.
It has been shown with glandular disease that the use of omeprazol only will only result in a 25% improvement in horses.
Clinical signs of the two types of gastric ulcers can be vary variable with some horses showing minimal changes and others a lot more severe. So for that reason treatment off clinical signs can be an unreliable method to assess the prevalence of the disease.
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03 59775250
Somerville,
Victoria