Скачать или смотреть Scoping a Horse for Stomach Ulcers

Stomach ulcers are an important condition in the horse. They can affect performance, behaviour, appetite and overall general health. The only way to truely know if a horse has gastric ulcers is to perform a gastroscope. A gastroscope is a 3 metre long flexible instrument. The gastroscope is passed up the horses' nose, past the larynx and into the oesophagus. Once in the oesophagus the scope is then passed into the stomach. We can examine a number of areas of the stomach with the gastroscope:

squamous portion of the stomach -- this is where ulceration can occur, particularly in horses on a high starch diet and/or exercised on an empty stomach

glandular portion of the stomach -- there can be some ulceration in this area, however it is typically well protected from the stomach secretions

pylorus -- this is the opening between the stomach and the small intestine. With the invention of the 3 metre gastroscope and an improved technique, we can visualise the pylorus and in some instances the proximal small intestine

If we do discover your horse has stomach ulcers, there are a number of different prescription medications available to manage the condition. Depending on where the ulcers are located, we may prescribe a different drug or a different formulation. Omeprazole is the most common medication used to manage stomach ulcers. It comes in three different formulations -- paste, granules and a slow release injection. Depending on where the ulcers are located, we are likely to prescribe a different formulation.

In some cases, we also will prescribe a gastroprotectant, typically Sucralfate. Historically, Sucralfate comes as a tablet, however recently a pellet has been developed.

Managing stomach ulcers is not just about using medications - it is also important to feed a diet low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) and ensure the horse has access to hay throughout the day. It is particularly important to feed your horse before exercise to create a feed cap in the stomach -- this can stop the gastric fluid from damaging the squamous portion of the stomach. Ensuring your horse also has access to fresh water is also important.

Overall, stomach ulcers are an important and common disease on the horse. A gastroscope is the only way to truely know if your horse has a stomach ulcers. And depending on the location and severity of the stomach ulcers, your veterinarian can prescribe a number of different medications