Prevalence of gastric squamous ulceration in horses with abdominal pain.
Authors: Dukti S A, Perkins S, Murphy J, Barr B, Boston R, Southwood L L, Bernard W
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Gastric ulceration occurs in nearly half of horses presenting with acute abdominal pain, though prevalence varies considerably depending on the underlying condition and treatment outcome. Dukti and colleagues examined 100 horses that underwent gastroscopy within 24 hours of admission, recording the presence and severity of gastric ulceration alongside their gastrointestinal diagnoses and subsequent treatment response. Horses managed medically showed significantly higher ulceration rates (59%) compared to those requiring surgical intervention (32%), whilst those with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis demonstrated a notable trend towards greater ulceration prevalence (68%) than large colon impactions (32%) or volvulus (14%). For practitioners, these findings suggest that gastric ulceration correlates more closely with medical conditions and may reflect secondary mucosal damage from systemic inflammation or altered gastric acid dynamics rather than serving as a primary driver of surgical colic. However, the authors appropriately emphasise that the clinical significance of detected ulceration remains unclear—distinguishing between incidental findings and lesions contributing meaningfully to pain and dysfunction requires further investigation before routine treatment protocols can be refined.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Nearly half of colicky horses have concurrent gastric ulceration—consider gastroscopic examination and ulcer treatment alongside addressing the primary abdominal condition
- •Medical colic cases show higher ulceration rates than surgical cases, suggesting gastric ulceration may be associated with less severe primary lesions or represents a secondary complication of painful states
- •Duodenitis-proximal jejunitis shows a concerning association with gastric ulceration; monitor these cases closely for ulcer development and consider prophylactic or therapeutic ulcer management
Key Findings
- •49% of horses with abdominal pain presenting within 24 hours had gastric ulceration on gastroscopy
- •Gastric ulceration prevalence was significantly higher in horses responding to medical therapy (59%) compared to those requiring surgery (32%)
- •68% of horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis had gastric ulceration, compared to 32% with large colon impaction and 14% with large colon volvulus
- •No statistically significant difference in gastric ulceration prevalence between specific gastrointestinal lesions, with clinical relevance remaining unclear