Postmortem findings of gastric ulcers in Swedish horses older than age one year: a retrospective study of 3715 horses (1924-1996).
Authors: Sandin A, Skidell J, Häggström J, Nilsson G
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Gastric Ulceration Prevalence in Horses Sandin and colleagues examined necropsy records from 3,715 Swedish horses (aged over one year) spanning seven decades to establish the historical prevalence of gastric ulceration and identify associated risk factors. Gastric ulcers or erosions were identified in 17% of cases overall, with marked breed variation: Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds showed the highest prevalence at 19%, whilst cold-blooded horses were affected in only 7%, suggesting genetic or management-related susceptibility differs significantly between types. The cutaneous region along the margo plicatus was the predominant site (52% of cases), and 62% of affected horses presented multiple ulcerations; notably, colic signs and concurrent lesions in the bowel, liver and oesophagus were statistically significant associations, though breed and era of necropsy emerged as the primary risk factors in multivariate analysis. The findings are particularly valuable as they confirm gastric ulceration as a long-standing condition rather than a modern phenomenon, implying that traditional management practices have not necessarily prevented this pathology. For practitioners, breed-specific risk profiles warrant consideration during clinical assessment, whilst the strong association between gastric ulcers and colic—combined with the frequency of multiple ulcerations—underscores the importance of investigating concurrent gastrointestinal involvement when either condition is suspected.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Gastric ulceration is a longstanding condition in horse populations with breed predisposition; Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds warrant closer monitoring for ulcer-related clinical signs
- •Colic presentation may indicate concurrent gastric ulceration; investigation and preventative management should be considered in susceptible breeds
- •Multiple ulcers and concurrent lesions in other organs are common findings, suggesting gastric ulceration should prompt assessment for systemic or multifocal disease
Key Findings
- •Gastric ulcers/erosions were present in 17% (633/3715) of necropsied horses older than one year across a 72-year period
- •Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds had the highest prevalence at 19% compared to only 7% in cold-blooded horses
- •The margo plicatus region was the most commonly affected anatomical site (52% of cases), and 62% of affected horses had multiple ulcers
- •Gastric ulceration showed significant bivariate associations with colic signs (P<0.001), gender (P<0.001), and concurrent bowel, liver, and oesophageal lesions (P<0.05 to P<0.001)