Gastric ulcer in horses
The stomach ulcer in the horse (Engl. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome , EGUS) is a common disorder of the stomach of the horse. It is characterized by lesions (lat. Laesio, injury) of the gastric mucosa of various degrees of severity, which are triggered by increased gastric acid secretion . Treatment is with omeprazole .
Occurrence
Stomach ulcers are common in horses. Studies show that up to 90% of thoroughbred racing horses, 60 to 80% of trotting horses, 60% of competition horses and 37% of recreational horses are affected by gastric ulcers. Half of the suckling foals sometimes “quietly” suffer from it.
causes
Gastric acid is continuously formed in the horse's stomach , but acid-buffering saliva is only produced during chewing. Two thirds of the stomach wall are provided with glands, one third consists of more sensitive, glandless mucous membrane. Together with fatty acids and bile acids that flow back into the stomach from the small intestine , there can be an imbalance between the mucous membrane protecting and mucosal damaging factors in the sensitive horse's stomach . Stomach irritation up to and including stomach ulcers can result. If gastric ulcers occur in the part containing the glands, the stomach's own protective mechanisms do not work properly there; if they occur in the more sensitive gland-free part, stress and the use of medication are primarily responsible.
Stomach ulcers are multifactorial, so several causes act together. Feeding errors such as taking too long breaks, too little roughage, (too) high amounts of concentrated feed and poor feed quality promote their occurrence. Inappropriate housing , restless group housing, restless eating as well as physical and psychological stress (e.g. after weaning, through relocation, changing feed, changing housing conditions, transport, tournament situation) also seem to play a role. Even with light training (e.g. at a gallop), increased pressure in the stomach can arise. Finally, various drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can also cause stomach ulcers to develop.
Symptoms
The symptom picture can appear clinically unspecific and is often not correctly interpreted.
In foals, recurrent colic , interrupted drinking, excessive salivation , grinding of teeth , diarrhea , fever , shaggy, dull coat, poor development status, frequent supine position are possible symptoms.
Adult horses can have recurring colic, reluctance to eat, poor / fussy eating (selection of certain feed components), discontinuation of feed intake, lying down after eating, gnashing of teeth, chewing empty, yawning, frequent " coughing ", "belching", mouth odor, weight loss , reduced performance and a bad one Show general condition.
diagnosis
An exact diagnosis has so far only been possible through gastroscopy . There is no safe laboratory test or biochemical markers. During gastroscopy on a standing, slightly sedated horse on an empty stomach, the effects in terms of severity can be seen immediately.
Graduation of the lesions in the area of the glandeless (cutaneous) mucosa
- Grade 0: intact epithelium , no reddening
- Grade 1: Intact mucosa , but areas of hyperkeratosis
- Grade 2: Small single or multifocal lesions
- Grade 3: Large single, multifocal or extensive ulceration foci, extensive superficial lesions
- Grade 4: widespread lesions with areas of very deep ulceration
Lesions in the area of the glandular mucous membrane
In principle, all sections of the glandular mucous membrane can be affected.
The following changes in the mucous membrane are possible
- focal (foci), multifocal (many foci), diffuse (distributed)
- low, medium or high grade
- just with bleeding, even with fibrinous exudation
- raised with bleeding, raised with fibrinous exudation
- ulcerated with blood clots, ulcerated with fibrinous exudation
therapy
Stomach ulcers are easy to treat. There are two ways of doing this: giving a drug to reduce gastric acid secretion and giving supplementary feed to accompany therapy.
Omeprazole is the drug of choice, a proton pump inhibitor that reduces gastric acid build-up. Only with omeprazole have sufficient efficacy and the required safety for use in horses been proven so that work can continue under the therapy. It is approved for horses in a special paste formulation (trade name GastroGard ) that is given directly into the mouth. In GastroGard, the acid-sensitive active ingredient omeprazole is protected against premature activation in the acidic environment of the stomach by a special formulation. The omeprazole is absorbed in the small intestine, reaches the proton pumps via the bloodstream and blocks them. This achieves a constantly high concentration of active substances in the plasma.
The diet supplementary feed Equitop Pronutrin has proven its worth during therapy and following therapy. It contains a patented pectin - lecithin - glycerin complex: The pectins counteract acidification of the stomach contents after feeding and inhibit the reflux of bile acids. At the same time, pectins stabilize the natural mucus and the lecithin strengthens the thin protective film of the gland-free gastric mucous membrane zone.
prophylaxis
Stress reduction, optimization of feeding and appropriate husbandry. In the event of unavoidable stress, the administration of omeprazole can be helpful for prevention.
literature
- BW Sykes et al .: European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement: Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in adult horses , J Vet Intern Med (29) 2015
- Vinzenz Gerber, Reto Straub: Equine diseases: internal medicine . Volume 8075 of Domestic Diseases . UTB, 2016, ISBN 9783825286125 , pp. 199f.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ BW Sykes et al .: European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement: Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in adult horses , J Vet Intern Med (29) 2015