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Equine veterinary journal2006; 38(3); 209-213; doi: 10.2746/042516406776866390

Prevalence of gastric ulceration in Swedish Standardbreds in race training.

Abstract: There is little information about the prevalence of gastric ulcers in Standardbred trotters and potential correlations between ulcers and various traits, e.g. age, sex, performance, temperament and feeding regimens, need further elucidation. Objective: The prevalence of ulcers in the gastric squamous mucosa of Swedish Standardbreds was estimated and the associations between ulcer score and age, sex, performance, temperament and feeding regimens were determined. Methods: Eighty Swedish Standardbreds in active race training, trained by 9 different trainers, underwent gastroscopy. Information on age, gender, status of training, performance over the last 4 months compared with the trainer's expectations before that period, behaviour, eating habits, feed type, bedding type, time spent outdoors per day and medical treatment during the last month was collected. Gastroscopy was performed and lesions in the squamous gastric mucosa were scored from 0 to 4 (0 = no lesions; 4 = > 5 lesions with haemorrhage, > 10 lesions with no haemorrhage, or a large area of diffuse loss of surface epithelium). Results: Twenty-four (30%) of the horses had no lesions in the squamous mucosa, 22 (27.5%) had a score of 1; 21 (26.2%) score 2; 9 (11.2%) score 3; and 4 (5%) score 4. Horses that were in preparatory training and those that had raced during the last month were significantly more affected than horses that were fit for racing but had not raced during the last month, using a logistic regression model with trainer incorporated as a random effect. Conclusions: The study confirmed a high prevalence of ulcers in the gastric squamous mucosa of Standardbreds in race training. Of the studied parameters only status of training showed a significant association with gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa. Conclusions: Gastric ulceration is a common disease and diagnosis should be made by endoscopic examination of the gastric mucosa, since parameters such as age, gender, performance, behaviour, eating habits provide only weak clues as to which horses might be affected. Further studies are needed to determine the aetiology of the syndrome and to find ways to reduce, if possible, the frequency of gastric ulcers.
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Publication Date: 2006-05-19 PubMed ID: 16706273DOI: 10.2746/042516406776866390Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The research investigates the occurrence of gastric ulcers in Swedish Standardbred horses in active race training and explores the possible correlation between ulcers and different traits like age, sex, performance, temperament, and feeding habits.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The study analyzed eighty Swedish Standardbred horses that were in active race training with nine different trainers.
  • Data on age, sex, state of training, performance over the previous four months versus initial expectations, behavior, eating habits, type of feed and bedding, time spent outside every day, and medical treatment received in the last month were collected.
  • Gastroscopy, an internal examination of the stomach, was used to identify and score the presence of lesions in the gastric squamous mucosa, which is the lining of the stomach. Lesions were scored on a scale from 0 to 4, with 0 representing no lesions and 4 equating to severe lesions.

Results and Findings

  • Out of the eighty horses studied, 24 had no gastric lesions, 22 had a score of 1, 21 had a score of 2, 9 had a score of 3, and 4 had a score of 4.
  • It was observed that horses in preparatory training and those that had participated in races in the last month were significantly more afflicted with gastric lesions than those that were fit but did not participate in racing in the same period.
  • It was therefore concluded that the study confirmed a high prevalence of gastric ulcers in Swedish Standardbreds in race training.
  • The only parameter that showed a significant correlation with gastric ulcers was status of training.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • The research concluded that gastric ulceration is a frequent issue in Standardbred horses in race training, and the condition’s diagnosis should be primarily done through endoscopic examination, because parameters such as age, sex, performance, temperament, and feeding regimen provide insufficient indications of which horses might be affected.
  • It is recommended that further studies are required to discern the causes of the gastric ulcer syndrome and explore possibilities to prevent or reduce the occurrence of gastric ulcers in this breed of race horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Jonsson H, Egenvall A. (2006). Prevalence of gastric ulceration in Swedish Standardbreds in race training. Equine Vet J, 38(3), 209-213. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406776866390

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 38
Issue: 3
Pages: 209-213

Researcher Affiliations

Jonsson, H
  • ATG:s Hästsjukhus Färjestad, Norra Infarten 82, SE-654 65 Karlstad, Sweden.
Egenvall, A

    MeSH Terms

    • Age Factors
    • Animal Feed
    • Animals
    • Cross-Sectional Studies
    • Female
    • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
    • Gastroscopy / methods
    • Gastroscopy / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
    • Horse Diseases / etiology
    • Horse Diseases / pathology
    • Horses
    • Male
    • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
    • Prevalence
    • Severity of Illness Index
    • Sex Factors
    • Sports
    • Stomach Ulcer / epidemiology
    • Stomach Ulcer / etiology
    • Stomach Ulcer / pathology
    • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary
    • Surveys and Questionnaires
    • Sweden / epidemiology

    Citations

    This article has been cited 21 times.
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