Behavioral Signature of Equine Gastric Discomfort? Preliminary Retrospective Clinical Observations.
Abstract: Gastric ulcer disease and other potentially painful gastric conditions are among the most common afflictions adversely affecting the welfare of domestic equids. A large percentage of affected animals may not display the classic signs of gastric disease, such as unexplained weight loss, poor hair coat, and inappetence until the disease becomes severe. As a clinical service within our equine referral hospital, we routinely evaluate 24-h video recorded samples of horses to assist clinicians in identifying subtle discomfort and potential sources or to scan for infrequent neurologic or cardiac-related behavioral events. Empirically, we have recognized discomfort behaviors that appear to be uniquely associated with gastric disease. These include frequent attention to the cranial abdomen (nuzzling, swatting, nipping, and/or caudal gaze focused on the abdomen caudal to the elbow) and/or deep abdominal stretching, often within the context of eating, drinking, and/or anticipating feeding. To systematically evaluate the reliability of these purported gastric discomfort behaviors, we reviewed 30 recent 24-h video behavior evaluation cases for which (1) the clinical video behavior evaluation had been carried out without knowledge of the history and presenting complaint and (2) direct gastric examination had confirmed gastric disease status at the time. Twenty-four of the thirty cases showed gastric discomfort behavior, and all twenty-four had either gastric ulcers (n = 21) and/or gastric impaction (n = 3). Of the six cases not showing gastric discomfort behaviors, four were free of gastric disease, while two had mild lesions. Comparing horses with and without gastric disease, gastric discomfort behaviors were reported in 24 of the 26 (92%) with gastric ulcers or gastric impaction, compared to none of the four gastric disease-free horses. Although a larger prospectively designed study is needed to confidently estimate the sensitivity and specificity or the associations of behavior with the type or severity of gastric disease, these results confirm our long-held clinical impression of a behavioral signature for gastric discomfort in the horse.
Publication Date: 2025-01-03 PubMed ID: 39795031PubMed Central: PMC11718877DOI: 10.3390/ani15010088Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the connection between certain behaviors and gastric discomfort in horses. Researchers from an equine hospital noticed that horses displaying certain behaviors were often afflicted with gastric disease. This led to a systematic review of 30 cases which confirmed their initial observations.
Objective of the research
- This study was conducted to validate the researchers’ empirical observations that certain behaviors in horses may signify gastric discomfort, potentially indicating gastric disease.
About the research method
- The researchers used 24-hour video recordings of horses’ behavior to make objective observations.
- They scrutinized 30 recent cases in which the video evaluation was done without prior knowledge of the animals’ medical history or symptoms.
- Only cases where direct gastric examination confirmed the presence or lack of gastric disease were included in the study.
- The key behaviors they looked for were nuzzling, swatting, nipping or caudal gaze focused on the upper abdomen, and deep abdominal stretching.
Results of the research
- Out of the 30 cases, 24 displayed the behaviors associated with gastric discomfort. All 24 were diagnosed with either gastric ulcers or gastric impaction.
- Of the six that displayed no such behavior, four were found to be free of gastric disease while two had mild lesions.
- The behaviors were observed in 92% of the horses with confirmed gastric disease, but none in the disease-free horses.
Implications of the research
- The findings strengthened the researchers’ belief of an observable behavioral signature for gastric discomfort in horses.
- While the study needs to be conducted on a larger scale to increase our confidence in the findings, these results could significantly improve the timely detection of gastric diseases in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Torcivia C, McDonnell SM.
(2025).
Behavioral Signature of Equine Gastric Discomfort? Preliminary Retrospective Clinical Observations.
Animals (Basel), 15(1).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15010088 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
- Havemeyer Equine Behavior Laboratory, Section of Reproduction and Behavior, Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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