Prevalence of gastric ulcers in endurance horses--a preliminary report.
Authors: Nieto Jorge E, Snyder Jack R, Beldomenico Pablo, Aleman Monica, Kerr James W, Spier Sharon J
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary Endurance competition exposes horses to significant gastric mucosal injury, with gastric endoscopy performed immediately post-competition revealing ulceration in two-thirds of 30 horses completing 50–80 km rides. Squamous ulcers predominated (57% of horses), whilst active bleeding from the glandular mucosa occurred in 27%—a notably high incidence that warrants further investigation into the mechanisms driving haemorrhagic lesions in endurance athletes. Although the overall prevalence matched that of other performance horses, ulcer severity was less marked than in intensively trained Thoroughbreds, suggesting endurance work presents a distinct pathophysiological challenge. Horses without gastric lesions demonstrated elevated serum albumin, creatinine and glucose, indicating metabolic differences that may confer protective effects or reflect different injury patterns. These findings underscore the need for endurance horse owners and veterinarians to implement preventive strategies, particularly given the high risk of bleeding lesions that could compromise performance and long-term gastric health.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Endurance horse owners should implement gastric ulcer prevention and screening protocols, as two-thirds of competition horses show ulceration despite lower severity than racehorses
- •Active bleeding from glandular mucosa is a significant finding in endurance horses requiring investigation—monitor for clinical signs of gastric disease and consider prophylactic management during training
- •Blood biochemistry markers (albumin, creatinine, glucose) may help identify horses at lower risk for gastric ulceration and should be incorporated into pre-competition health assessments
Key Findings
- •67% of endurance horses showed gastric ulceration after 50-80 km rides
- •57% had ulcers on the squamous region of the stomach
- •27% demonstrated active bleeding from the glandular mucosa
- •Horses without gastric lesions had higher albumin, creatinine, and glucose values