Evaluation of intra-abdominal pressure in horses that crib.
Authors: Albanese Valeria, Munsterman Amelia S, DeGraves Fred J, Hanson R Reid
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Intra-abdominal Pressure in Cribbing Horses Cribbing—a stereotypic behaviour where horses grip surfaces with their incisors—has long been associated with various physiological consequences, yet the mechanical effects on abdominal pressure have not been clearly characterised until now. Albanese and colleagues inserted pressure-sensing catheters into the peritoneal cavity of eight cribbing and eight non-cribbing horses via the paralumbar fossa under local anaesthesia, recording intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) continuously over two hours whilst horses stood tied in their stalls. Whilst baseline pressures were comparable between groups, IAP increased significantly during active cribbing behaviour and—notably—remained elevated even after the horses had stopped the behaviour, suggesting a sustained biomechanical effect rather than a transient one. How frequently horses engaged in cribbing did not predict the magnitude of pressure increase, indicating that duration or intensity of individual episodes may be more relevant than overall frequency. These findings have meaningful implications for practitioners managing cribbing horses: the sustained elevation of IAP could contribute to chronic abdominal discomfort, altered gastrointestinal function, or secondary musculoskeletal compensation patterns. Understanding cribbing as a behaviour that produces measurable intra-abdominal changes strengthens the case for early intervention and may help farriers, physiotherapists, and veterinarians better contextualise clinical presentations in affected horses, particularly when addressing concurrent back pain, gait asymmetry, or digestive disturbances.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Cribbing horses have persistently elevated abdominal pressure both during and after the behaviour, which may contribute to secondary complications including recurrent colic or gastric ulceration
- •Frequency of cribbing alone does not predict the degree of intra-abdominal pressure elevation, suggesting individual variation in how horses respond to the behaviour
- •Management strategies to reduce cribbing may help normalise abdominal pressure and potentially prevent associated health issues
Key Findings
- •Baseline intra-abdominal pressure was not significantly different between cribbing and non-cribbing horses (P=0.076)
- •Intra-abdominal pressure was significantly increased during active cribbing compared to non-cribbing horses (P=0.0016)
- •Intra-abdominal pressure remained significantly elevated in cribbing horses even after the behaviour ceased (P=0.0002)
- •Frequency of cribbing was not associated with increased intra-abdominal pressure (P=0.35)