Association of Equine Squamous and Glandular Gastric Disease with Dental Status in 54 Horses.
Authors: Lensing Rabea, Wirth Caroline, Thünker Franziska, Merle Roswitha, Barton Ann Kristin
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Dental Status and Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome Dental disease has long been suspected of predisposing horses to equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) through reduced saliva production and subsequent lowering of gastric pH, yet this hypothesis remained largely untested. Researchers evaluated 54 horses using gastroscopy, intragastric pH measurement, and comprehensive dental examination; 32 horses received omeprazole therapy whilst 22 underwent dental correction, with 9 undergoing repeat gastroscopy four weeks later. Although moderate to severe dental disorders showed no statistically significant association with either squamous (ESGD) or glandular (EGGD) gastric disease grades, a trend emerged linking poor dental status to acidic gastric environments (pH ≤4), with mean gastric pH dropping from 5.4 in horses with no or mild dental problems to 4.2 in those with moderate to severe disease. Whilst this work does not support dental disease as a direct driver of EGUS pathology, it reinforces the clinical value of evaluating both oral and gastric health in horses presenting with weight loss or inappetence, particularly given the observed pH effects that may contribute to mucosal vulnerability. The findings suggest that whilst optimising gastric pH through dental care alone may be insufficient for EGUS resolution, dental examination remains an important component of comprehensive investigation in horses with upper gastrointestinal signs.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Dental disease alone is not a direct cause of gastric ulceration, but addressing dental problems may help optimize gastric pH as part of comprehensive EGUS management
- •Always perform both oral and gastric examinations in horses presenting with weight loss or inappetence, as dental and gastric issues may coexist
- •Omeprazole remains the primary evidence-based treatment for EGUS; dental correction should be viewed as a supportive measure rather than a standalone solution
Key Findings
- •No significant direct relationship found between moderate to severe dental disorders and ESGD (p=0.394) or EGGD (p=0.857) in 54 horses
- •Trend observed that moderate to severe dental disorders were associated with lower gastric pH ≤4 (p=0.100), with mean pH 4.2 versus 5.4 in horses with no or mild dental problems
- •Omeprazole therapy was recommended for 32 horses and dental disorder correction for 22 horses, with follow-up gastroscopy in only 9 horses at 4 weeks