Equine gastric ulcers are lesions that occur in the stomach lining of horses, often associated with stress, diet, and management practices. These ulcers can affect horses of all ages and disciplines, leading to varying degrees of discomfort and performance issues. The condition is typically categorized into Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), which includes lesions in both the squamous and glandular regions of the stomach. Diagnosis often involves endoscopic examination, and management strategies may include dietary modifications, stress reduction, and pharmacological interventions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management of gastric ulcers in horses.
Pedersen SK, Cribb AE, Read EK, French D, Banse HE.In equids, phenylbutazone at high doses induces gastric disease, primarily in the glandular portion of the stomach. However, the mechanism of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric disease in horses has yet to be determined. While phenylbutazone-associated ulceration is often attributed to a decrease in basal gastric prostaglandins, this has not been demonstrated in the horse. Twelve horses were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 6; 4.4 mg/kg phenylbutazone PO in 20 ml molasses q 12 hr for 7 days) or placebo (n = 6; 20 ml molasses PO q 12 hr for 7 days) groups....
Pennington MR, Cossic BGA, Perkins GA, Duffy C, Duhamel GE, Van de Walle GR.Horses commonly develop gastric mucosal ulcers, similar to humans, a condition known as equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) that can lead to poor performance and lost training time and care expenses. Unlike humans, however, an infectious bacterial cause of ulcers has not been conclusively identified. Herpesviruses, while well-established causative agents of diseases such as cold sores, genital lesions, and certain types of cancer, have also been implicated in the development of a subset of gastric ulcers in humans. The presence of equid herpesviruses in the gastrointestinal tract and their po...
Scheidegger MD, Gerber V, Bruckmaier RM, van der Kolk JH, Burger D, Ramseyer A.This study tested the hypothesis that adrenocortical function would be altered in horses with equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Twenty-six sport horses competing at national or international levels in eventing (n=15) or endurance (n=11) were subjected to a gastroscopic examination and an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured before (baseline) and after (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150min) IV ACTH injection (1μg/kg bodyweight). Within EGUS, two distinct diseases, equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric diseas...
Huxford KE, Dart AJ, Perkins NR, Bell R, Jeffcott LB.AIMS To compare the efficacy of an enteric coated esomeprazole paste with an enteric coated omeprazole paste to increase gastric pH after oral administration in horses. METHODS Nine adult Standardbred horses were randomly assigned to three groups, each containing three horses, for a study comprising three phases of 10 days, with an 18-day washout period between each phase. In each phase, three horses received either 0.5 mg/kg esomeprazole, 1 mg/kg omeprazole or a placebo, as an oral paste, once daily for 10 days (Days 0-9). Over the course of study all horses received all three treatments....
Bush J, van den Boom R, Franklin S.Anecdotally, aloe vera is used to treat gastric ulceration, although no studies have yet investigated its efficacy in horses. Objective: To test the hypothesis that aloe vera would be noninferior to omeprazole in the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Methods: Randomised, blinded clinical trial. Methods: Forty horses with grade ≥2 lesions of the squamous and/or glandular mucosa were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Horses received either aloe vera inner leaf gel (17.6 mg/kg bwt) b.i.d. or omeprazole (4 mg/kg bwt) s.i.d. for approximately 28 days, after which a repeat gastrosc...
Raidal SL, Andrews FM, Nielsen SG, Trope G.Limited data are available on the relative pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of different omeprazole formulations. Objective: To compare pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of a novel omeprazole formulation against a currently registered product. Methods: Masked 2 period, 2 treatment crossover. Methods: Twelve clinically healthy horses were studied over two 6-day treatment periods. Horses were randomly assigned to receive a novel omeprazole paste (Ulcershield: ULS) or a currently registered reference omeprazole product (OMO). Gastric pH was measured continuously for 10 h on the day...
Zavoshti FR, Andrews FM.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is an umbrella term used to describe ulcers in the nonglandular squamous and glandular mucosa, terminal esophagus, and proximal duodenum. Gastric ulcers in the squamous and glandular regions occur more often than esophageal or duodenal ulcers and likely have a different pathogenesis. At present, omeprazole is accepted globally as the best pharmacologic therapy for both regions of the stomach; however, the addition of coating agents and synthetic prostaglandins could add to its effectiveness in treatment of EGUS. Dietary and environmental management are nece...
Hewetson M, Sykes BW, Hallowell GD, Tulamo RM.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is common in adult horses, particularly those involved in performance disciplines. Currently, detection of EGUS by gastroscopy is the only reliable ante mortem method for definitive diagnosis; however it is unsuitable as a screening test because it is expensive, time consuming, and is not readily available to most veterinarians. Sucrose permeability testing represents a simple, economical alternative to gastroscopy for screening purposes, and the feasibility of this approach in the horse has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to determine t...
Sykes BW, Underwood C, Mills PC.Esomeprazole warrants further investigation as a treatment for equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Objective: To investigate the duration of intraday acid suppression achieved with two doses of esomeprazole under two dietary conditions. Methods: A four way crossover design. Methods: Six adult Thoroughbreds instrumented with percutaneous gastrotomy tubes were used. Intragastric pH was measured for continuous 23 h periods (08.00-07.00 h) for 6 consecutive days (Days 0-5). Baseline data was recorded on Day 0 and esomeprazole was administered on Days 1-5. Two doses (0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg bwt/day per os onc...
Mönki J, Hewetson M, Virtala AM.Equine gastric glandular disease (EGGD) is a term used to classify erosive and ulcerative diseases of the glandular mucosa of the equine stomach. Epidemiologic studies of risk factors for EGGD have not been reported. Objective: To determine risk factors for EGGD. Methods: Cases (n = 83) had endoscopic evidence of EGGD; controls (n = 34) included healthy horses and horses with equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) without EGGD. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. The data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression modeling. Analysis was performed on the full dataset. An addi...
Swerczek TW.Unexplained clinical signs of weight loss and emaciation were reported in a herd of Thoroughbred horses grazing spring pastures on a central Kentucky farm, even though supplemental grain and hay were provided. Results: A buttercup plant, Ranunculus bulbosus L, was abundantly present in all pastures and paddocks on the farm. All horses, especially lactating mares and their foals, had mild to severe weight loss as assessed by body condition. Seven mares on the farm had been confirmed pregnant between 30 and 45 days of gestation, but were later found to have aborted. Two 2-year-old fillies develo...
Dong HJ, Ho H, Hwang H, Kim Y, Han J, Lee I, Cho S.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is one of the most frequently reported diseases in thoroughbred racehorses. Although several risk factors for the development of gastric ulcers have been widely studied, investigation of microbiological factors has been limited. In this study, the presence of Helicobacter spp. and the gastric microbial communities of thoroughbred racehorses having mild to severe gastric ulcers were investigated. Although Helicobacter spp. were not detected using culture and PCR techniques from 52 gastric biopsies and 52 fecal samples, the genomic sequences of H. pylori and H. ganm...
Lotstra RJ, van den Broek J, Power T, Marr CM, Wijnberg ID.Atrial fibrillation is a common equine arrhythmia. Quinidine alone, or with digoxin are common treatments. Studies on outcome in Warmblood populations in which duration of the AF is often unknown are limited. Objective: To identify the factors that are associated with the success of full treatment cardioversion with oral medication, and establish whether there are differences in these factors between institutions. Methods: Retrospective case series using patient records of Equine University Clinic of Utrecht University and Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket. Methods: Forty-nine horses treate...
Winfield LS, Dechant JE.The purpose of this retrospective case-control study was to identify factors associated with primary gastric rupture and to investigate if there were differences between etiologies of primary gastric rupture. Compared to the general colic population, Quarter horses were under-represented and Friesians and draft breeds were over-represented in 47 cases of primary gastric ruptures. Horses with primary gastric rupture typically presented with severe clinical and clinicopathological derangements. There were 24 idiopathic gastric ruptures, 20 gastric impaction associated ruptures, and 3 perforating...
Uzal FA, Diab SS.The gastrointestinal system of horses is affected by a large variety of inflammatory infectious and noninfectious conditions. The most prevalent form of gastritis is associated with ulceration of the pars esophagea. Although the diagnostic techniques for alimentary diseases of horses have improved significantly over the past few years, difficulties still exist in establishing the causes of a significant number of enteric diseases in this species. This problem is compounded by several agents of enteric disease also being found in the intestine of clinically normal horses, which questions the va...
Sykes BW, Underwood C, Greer R, McGowan CM, Mills PC.Omeprazole is widely used in the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. To date, little is known about the relative pharmacokinetics of the different formulations making comparisons between products difficult. The objectives of the study were to investigate the relative pharmacokinetics of five commercially available formulations of omeprazole in the horse and to test for bioequivalence of four of the formulations using one of the formulations as a reference standard. Twelve mature Thoroughbred horses were fasted for 16 h then administered 2 g of each formulation in a cross-over design. S...
Okai K, Taharaguchi S, Orita Y, Yokota H, Taniyama H.To contribute to early diagnosis and treatment of gastric ulcer of foals, we examined the gastric mucosa of healthy and affected foals using an endoscope. In healthy foals, the characteristic changes in the development of the squamous mucosa were seen mainly in the squamous mucosa, and maturation of the squamous mucosa in the greater curvature (GC-S) occurred more slowly than that of the squamous mucosa in the lesser curvature (LC-S). Epithelial desquamation in the LC-S and GC-S was observed between 6 and 90 days but was not observed in the LC-S at about 60 days, whereas it was observed in the...
Sykes BW, Sykes KM, Hallowell GD.Interest in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) has recently increased in part due to a growing awareness of the differences between squamous and glandular disease. The pathophysiology and epidemiology of squamous and glandular disease are different and recently it has been shown that the response of glandular gastric ulceration to monotherapy with omeprazole is poor. Given these differences it has been recommended that specific treatment guidelines be formulated for equine glandular disease and that adjunctive therapies be investigated. Along these lines it has been suggested that the additi...
Hempstead JE, Clode AB, Borst LB, Gilger BC.To evaluate corneal changes associated with chronic, nonhealing, superficial, corneal ulcers in horses via common histopathological stains. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Twenty-four horses diagnosed with chronic, nonhealing, superficial, corneal ulceration. Methods: The medical records of horses evaluated at North Carolina State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital (NCSU-VTH) from 2005 to 2011, diagnosed with a chronic, nonhealing, superficial, corneal ulcer and treated with superficial keratectomy (SK) were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were superficial corneal ulceration, no cel...
Woodward MC, Huff NK, Garza F, Keowen ML, Kearney MT, Andrews FM.The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of two commercial feed supplements, Egusin 250® [E-250] and Egusin SLH® [E-SLH], on gastric ulcer scores, gastric fluid pH, and blood gas values in stall-confined horses undergoing feed-deprivation. Methods: Nine Thoroughbred horses were used in a three-period crossover study. For the three treatment groups, sweet feed was mixed with E-250, E-SLH, or nothing (control group) and fed twice daily. Horses were treated for 21 days, then an additional 7 days while on an alternating feed-deprivation model to induce or worsen ulcers (period o...
Sykes BW, Sykes KM, Hallowell GD.A previous study demonstrated that a dose effect between 1.6 and 4.0 mg/kg bwt of omeprazole per os s.i.d. is present in the treatment of equine gastric ulceration. In the same study, healing of glandular ulceration appeared inferior to healing of squamous ulceration. However, several limitations were recognised in that study and further investigation is warranted. Objective: To further investigate the presence of a dose relationship in the treatment of gastric ulceration under conditions that may favour omeprazole efficacy such as administration prior to exercise and after a brief fast, and...
Sanz MG, Viljoen A, Saulez MN, Olorunju S, Andrews FM.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial feed supplement containing pectin-lecithin on squamous mucosa ulceration in horses exposed to an experimental ulceration model. Five mares were treated while five mares were controls for this crossover, blinded study. The mares were fed concentrates and hay and were stabled with a two-hour turn out per day for a period of four weeks. The pectin-lecithin complex was fed for the duration of the study on the treated group. At the end of a four-week period, all mares underwent a seven-day alternating feed deprivation (week 5). ...
Birkmann K, Junge HK, Maischberger E, Wehrli Eser M, Schwarzwald CC.GastroGard, an omeprazole powder paste formulation, is considered the standard treatment for gastric ulcers in horses and is highly effective. Gastrozol, an enteric-coated omeprazole formulation for horses, has recently become available, but efficacy data are controversial and sparse. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of GastroGard and Gastrozol at labeled doses (4 and 1 mg of omeprazole per kg bwt, respectively, PO q24h) in healing of gastric ulcers. Methods: 40 horses; 9.5 ± 4.6 years; 491 ± 135 kg. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded study. Horses with an ulcer score ≥1 (Equi...
Lassaline-Utter M, Cutler TJ, Michau TM, Nunnery CM.To review the signalment, clinical characteristics, and outcome of horses with nonhealing corneal ulcers treated with diamond burr debridement (DBD); and to evaluate the role of ulcer duration, size and location, and bandage contact lens (BCL) placement on healing. Methods: From January 2012-April 2013, 60 horses were diagnosed with ulcers classified as nonhealing based on the presence of raised epithelial margins and duration of at least 7 days. Methods: Retrospective record review. Results: Average age of included horses was 14.68 years, SD 8.17 years. There were three times as many males (4...
Nishita T, Anezaki R, Matsunaga K, Orito K, Kasuya T, Sakanoue H, Matsunaga A, Arishima K.Although endoscopy is the definitive diagnostic method for the detection of colonic ulcers, the equipment required for performing the test is costly and difficult to use. Therefore, a simple cost-effective and reliable screening test for intestinal tract bleeding is needed. To this end, we measured carbonic anhydrase isozymes (CA-I and CA-II) originating from erythrocytes by ELISA in order to determine if they could be used as markers of occult blood in feces. For fecal extract preparation, 2 g of feces were mixed with 4 ml of 0.01 M Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) containing 0.01% thimerosal. The concentra...
Traub-Dargatz JL, Bertone JJ, Gould DH, Wrigley RH, Weiser MG, Forney SD.Effects of a therapeutic dose of flunixin meglumine on gastric mucosa of horse foals were determined by endoscopy, double-contrast radiography, and gross and histologic examinations. Foals were administered 1.1 mg of flunixin meglumine/kg of body weight, PO/day for 30 days in an encapsulated form that was divided into 2 doses/day (group 1; n = 3) or by IM injection once a day (group 2; n = 7). Three control foals (group 3; n = 3) were administered capsules (n = 1) containing dextrose powder or IM injections (n = 2) of vehicle solution without flunixin meglumine. All 3 groups-1 foals given flun...
Cogley TP, Cogley MC.The degree of penetration into the stomach and duodenum of the horse by bot fly larvae, Gasterophilus intestinalis (De Geer) and G. nasalis (Linnaeus) (Diptera : Gasterophilidae) was evaluated. Evidence of larval perforation of the stomach or duodenum was not found on gross inspection. Palpation of the intact stomach and duodenum was not effective in establishing the existence of Gasterophilus larvae within the organs. Findings suggest that larvae of both species produce an ulcer of similar depth within the gastrointestinal wall. The ulcer depth produced by larvae did not correlate with the no...
Brooks DE, Andrew SE, Biros DJ, Denis HM, Cutler TJ, Strubbe DT, Gelatt KN.Purpose To describe 11 clinical cases of ulcerative keratitis in horses associated with beta-hemolytic Streptococcus equi in Florida, USA. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study (1996-99). RESULTS: Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus equi was cultured from 11 horses with deep ulcers, descemetoceles or iris prolapse (n = 8), a suture abscess found with a penetrating keratoplasty for a stromal abscess (n = 1), and ulceration that developed following keratectomy/irradiation for corneal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 2). Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus was found in 10 eyes and sub...
Galinelli N, Wambacq W, Broeckx BJG, Hesta M.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a pathological condition affecting the glandular and squamous regions of the stomach. It is characterized by non-specific clinical signs, behavioural changes or can also be found without any overt clinical manifestations. Nutritional factors such as intermittent feeding, high sugars and starch intake, large amounts of straw as forage and prolonged time without access to forage have all been associated with an increased risk of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). The aim of this study was to investigate which nutritional practices are commonly seen in...
Andrews FM, Buchanan BR, Smith SH, Elliott SB, Saxton AM.To compare the effects of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and various concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on tissue bioelectric properties of equine stomach nonglandular (NG) mucosa. Methods: Gastric tissues obtained from 48 adult horses. Methods: NG gastric mucosa was studied by use of Ussing chambers. Short-circuit current (Isc) and potential difference (PD) were measured and electrical resistance (R) and conductance calculated for tissues after addition of HCl and VFAs (5, 10, 20, and 40 mM) in normal Ringer's solution (NRS). Results: Mucosa exposed to HCl in NRS (pH of 1.5 and, to a less...
Contreras-Aguilar MD, Rubio CP, González-Arostegui LG, MartÃn-Cuervo M, Cerón JJ, Ayala I, Henriksen IH, Jacobsen S, Hansen S.Changes in the oxidative status of the blood of horses suffering from gastric ulcers and colic of intestinal aetiology (CIE) have been reported. However, saliva can also be a source of biomarkers of oxidative status. Therefore, this study aims to validate automated assays for the measurement of oxidative status biomarkers (ferric reducing ability of saliva/serum-FRAS/FRAP, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity-CUPRAC, the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity-TEAC, uric acid, and advanced oxidation protein products-AOPP) in the saliva and serum of horses, to assess their changes in the differe...
Acland HM, Gunson DE, Gillette DM.Seven foals aged 18 days to 3 1/2 months had either single or multiple full-circumference segments or long antimesenteric bands of necrotizing duodenitis, sharply delineated from adjacent viable duodenum. Perforation of the necrotic wall had occurred in all foals, leading to acute fibrinous peritonitis. On the mucosal surface severe diffuse, acute inflammation and ulceration involved the anterior half of the duodenum. Two further foals, aged 28 and 30 days, had lesions that are believed to be a chronic form of this disease. Both foals had a thickened duodenal wall, with large areas of mucosa r...
Furr MO, Murray MJ.Of 55 horses treated with histamine type 2 (H2) receptor antagonists for gastric ulcers, 32 were examined by gastroendoscopy before and after treatment. Distribution and severity of lesions in the squamous fundus (sf), margo plicatus (mp), glandular fundus (gf), lesser curvature (lc) and cardia (car) were recorded. Severity of the lesions was scored 0-4 (0 = no lesions, 4 = most severe). On initial examination, lesions were most frequently observed at the mp (28/32) and least frequently observed in the gf (5/32). There was endoscopic confirmation of improvement in lesion scores in each region,...
Onderdonk AB.Animal model systems have been used extensively to study both experimental and naturally occurring ulcerative colitis syndromes. Interestingly, despite a variety of different animal species and a broad range of inducing agents, the response of the large intestine has been somewhat predictable. Although there is suggestive evidence for transmissible agents in several of these animal model systems, documentation of a bacterial or viral etiology has remained elusive. Perhaps the best evidence to suggest that bacteria play a role in the development of naturally occurring ulcerative colitis resides...
Geor RJ, Petrie L, Papich MG, Rousseaux C.The effects of sucralfate and ranitidine on the gastrointestinal manifestations of phenylbutazone (PBZ) toxicity in horse foals were determined by complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, and gross and histological necropsy examinations. Twenty-eight, three to four month old Belgian-cross foals were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Phenylbutazone was administered at a dosage of 10 mg/kg of bodyweight (BW) per day, intravenously (IV), in equally divided doses to three of the groups. In addition to PBZ, ranitidine was administered at 2 mg/kg BW, IV, twice daily, to one group of sev...
Meschter CL, Gilbert M, Krook L, Maylin G, Corradino R.Phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug known to produce gastric ulcers, was administered intravenously (13.46 mg/kg body weight) daily to 12 horses. Horses were euthanatized daily after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours following the initial injection. Eight untreated horses served as controls. Small multifocal pyloric erosions were seen after 24 hours and then progressed in severity over time. The erosions were characterized by sloughing of the surface epithelium, subepithelial bleb formation, necrosis of the lamina propria, degeneration of the walls of subsurface capillaries, and micro...
Hewetson M, Venner M, Volquardsen J, Sykes BW, Hallowell GD, Vervuert I, Fosgate GT, Tulamo RM.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is an important cause of morbidity in weanling foals. Many foals are asymptomatic, and the development of an inexpensive screening test to ensure an early diagnosis is desirable. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of blood sucrose for diagnosis of EGUS in weanling foals. Results: 45 foals were studied 7Â days before and 14Â days after weaning. The diagnostic accuracy of blood sucrose for diagnosis of gastric lesions (GL); glandular lesions (GDL); squamous lesions (SQL) and clinically significant gastric lesions (CSL) at 45 and 90Â...
Muñoz-Prieto A, Contreras-Aguilar MD, Cerón JJ, Ayala de la Peña I, MartÃn-Cuervo M, Eckersall PD, Holm Henriksen IM, Tecles F, Hansen S.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a highly prevalent disease that affects horses worldwide. Within EGUS, two different forms have been described: equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD). The associated clinical signs cause detrimental activity performance, reducing the quality of life of animals. Saliva can contain biomarkers for EGUS that could be potentially used as a complementary tool for diagnosis. The objective of this work was to evaluate the measurements of calprotectin (CALP) and aldolase in the saliva of horses as potential biomarkers ...
Dukti SA, Perkins S, Murphy J, Barr B, Boston R, Southwood LL, Bernard W.Prevalence of gastric ulcerations differs widely according to breed and circumstances of management. Further study of the biological variables involved is required in order to identify more exactly the reasons for the reported range. Objective: The objectives of this present study, which do not appear to have been addressed previously in the literature, were 1) the prevalence of gastric ulceration in horses with abdominal pain. 2) difference in prevalence in horses responding to medical therapy and those requiring surgical intervention. 3) whether gastric ulceration is associated with any part...
Bush J, van den Boom R, Franklin S.Anecdotally, aloe vera is used to treat gastric ulceration, although no studies have yet investigated its efficacy in horses. Objective: To test the hypothesis that aloe vera would be noninferior to omeprazole in the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Methods: Randomised, blinded clinical trial. Methods: Forty horses with grade ≥2 lesions of the squamous and/or glandular mucosa were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Horses received either aloe vera inner leaf gel (17.6 mg/kg bwt) b.i.d. or omeprazole (4 mg/kg bwt) s.i.d. for approximately 28 days, after which a repeat gastrosc...
Sykes BW, Sykes KM, Hallowell GD.Interest in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) has recently increased in part due to a growing awareness of the differences between squamous and glandular disease. The pathophysiology and epidemiology of squamous and glandular disease are different and recently it has been shown that the response of glandular gastric ulceration to monotherapy with omeprazole is poor. Given these differences it has been recommended that specific treatment guidelines be formulated for equine glandular disease and that adjunctive therapies be investigated. Along these lines it has been suggested that the additi...
Strubbe DT, Brooks DE, Schultz GS, Willis-Goulet H, Gelatt KN, Andrew SE, Kallberg ME, MacKay EO, Collante WR.Ulcerative keratitis is a common and potentially blinding ocular disease of horses, capable of progressing to corneal perforation in as little as 24 h. This rapid stromal degeneration is mediated in part by exogenous and endogenous proteinases. We measured and compared the concentrations of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and a serine proteinase (neutrophil elastase) present in the precorneal tear film of normal horses and horses with rapidly progressing ulcerative keratitis. Precorneal tear film samples were collected from 23 ulcerated and 21 unaffected eyes of 23 horses with ...
Cargile JL, Burrow JA, Kim I, Cohen ND, Merritt AM.The effect of corn oil (approximately 60% [wt/vol] linoleic acid) dietary supplementation on various components of equine gastric secretion was studied by use of a repeated-measures experimental design. Four healthy adult ponies were surgically fitted with gastric cannulas. The ponies were then fed a free-choice hay diet for 5 weeks, which was followed by 5 weeks of the same diet supplemented with 45 mL of corn oil daily. Gastric contents were analyzed under basal and pentagastrin-stimulated conditions once weekly during the latter 2 weeks on each diet. Gastric contents were collected at 30-mi...
Mason LV, Moroney JR, Mason RJ.Guidelines regarding the impact and value of prophylaxis or maintenance therapy in equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) are not well-established or defined. The merits and the magnitude of effects of prophylaxis for spontaneous or recurrent squamous gastric ulceration in horses in training are uncertain. Objective: To pool data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to eliminate reporting bias and evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic omeprazole in the prevention of EGUS in training horses, and secondarily to compare prophylactic dosages of omeprazole. Methods: Meta-analysis. Methods: This m...
Birkmann K, Junge HK, Maischberger E, Wehrli Eser M, Schwarzwald CC.GastroGard, an omeprazole powder paste formulation, is considered the standard treatment for gastric ulcers in horses and is highly effective. Gastrozol, an enteric-coated omeprazole formulation for horses, has recently become available, but efficacy data are controversial and sparse. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of GastroGard and Gastrozol at labeled doses (4 and 1 mg of omeprazole per kg bwt, respectively, PO q24h) in healing of gastric ulcers. Methods: 40 horses; 9.5 ± 4.6 years; 491 ± 135 kg. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded study. Horses with an ulcer score ≥1 (Equi...
Andrews FM, Buchanan BR, Elliott SB, Al Jassim RA, McGowan CM, Saxton AM.Volatile fatty acids, byproducts of carbohydrate fermentation by resident bacteria, have been implicated in causing nonglandular (NG) gastric ulcers. Lactic acid (LA), also produced by stomach bacteria, may cause gastric ulcers when exposed to the equine NG mucosa. Objective: To investigate the in vitro effects of LA on equine NG mucosa bioelectric properties, sodium transport and tissue resistance. Methods: Gastric tissues obtained from 13 mature horses were studied in Ussing chambers. Short-circuit current (Isc) and potential difference (PD) were measured, and electrical resistance (R) and c...
Tesena P, Yingchutrakul Y, Roytrakul S, Taylor J, Angkanaporn K, Wongtawan T.Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) is a very common disorder but an accurate and practical screening technique for detecting ESGD is currently lacking. Objective: To identify serum protein markers to detect ESGD using electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Methods: Proteomic analysis and bioinformatics. Methods: ESGD was diagnosed using gastroscopy in 30 horses. Gastric ulceration was categorised into three groups: normal, mild/moderate and severe ESGD. Pooled sera from each group were compared using 1D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The candidate proteins for ESGD markers were sel...
Bell RJ, Kingston JK, Mogg TD.To compare two scoring systems for grading gastric ulcers in adult horses. Methods: Digitised recordings of gastroscopy examinations of 22 horses that were part of a study on prevalence of gastric ulceration in racehorses in New Zealand were reviewed independently by three examiners. All stomachs were graded by each examiner using two different grading systems, the Equine Gastric Ulcer Council (EGUC) system and the Number/Severity (N/S) system. Results: All examiners commented that the EGUC system was quicker and easier to use. There was no significant difference between examiners in the grade...
Videla R, Sommardahl CS, Elliott SB, Vasili A, Andrews FM.Gastric ulcers are common in horses and treatment of horses that cannot be administered oral medication can be problematic. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of esomeprazole sodium administered intravenously on gastric juice pH and gastric ulcer scores in horses. Methods: Twelve adult female Quarter Horses. Methods: Esomeprazole sodium (0.5 mg/kg IV) was administered once daily to 8 horses (treatment group) and saline (5 mL IV) was administered to 4 horses (control group) for 13 consecutive days. Gastroscopy was performed and gastric juice pH and gastric ulcer score were recorded before and ...
Ollivier FJ, Brooks DE, Van Setten GB, Schultz GS, Gelatt KN, Stevens GR, Blalock TD, Andrew SE, Komaromy AM, Lassaline ME, Kallberg ME, Cutler TJ.Levels of tear film matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity are significantly elevated in horses with ulcerative keratitis and contribute to the excessive breakdown of stromal collagen. Changes in the amount of proteolytic activity in horse tear film during corneal healing and stromal remodeling have not yet been reported, but we hypothesize they should decrease. In the present study we analyzed serial tear fluid from horses with ulcerative keratitis to identify any changes in MMP activity during corneal healing and stromal remodeling. Methods: Samples of tear fluid were obtained from both e...
Ricord M, Andrews FM, Yñiguez FJM, Keowen M, Garza F, Paul L, Chapman A, Banse HE.Phenylbutazone is commonly prescribed for treatment of various painful or inflammatory disorders in horses, but is associated with gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects. Anecdotally, many practitioners prescribe omeprazole concurrently with phenylbutazone to reduce development of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), but the efficacy and safety of this practice remains unknown. Objective: To evaluate the effect of omeprazole on phenylbutazone-induced equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) and equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Methods: Randomised block experimental design. Methods: Twent...
Nieto JE, Spier S, Pipers FS, Stanley S, Aleman MR, Smith DC, Snyder JR.To compare effects of a commercially available omeprazole paste and a compounded omeprazole suspension on healing of gastric ulcers in Thoroughbred racehorses in active training. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: 32 horses with gastric ulcers. Methods: Horses were assigned to 2 groups on the basis of endoscopic gastric ulcer severity. Group-1 horses were treated with omeprazole suspension for 30 days and with omeprazole paste for an additional 30 days. Group-2 horses were treated with omeprazole paste for 30 days and omeprazole suspension for an additional 30 days. Serum omeprazol...
Gough S, Hallowell G, Rendle D.Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) is common in domesticated horses and can be challenging to treat. Oral omeprazole (ORLO) is used widely but the clinical response is frequently poor. Objective: To compare rates of EGGD healing and improvement between ORLO and a long-acting injectable omeprazole preparation (LAIO). Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: The case records and gastroscopy images of horses presenting to masked for peer review over a 12-month period were reviewed, with images blindly assessed by one of the authors. Treatment responses to 4 mg/kg LAIO administered eve...
