Treatment of gastric ulcers in horses with histamine type 2 receptor antagonists.

The research study focuses on the efficacy of histamine type 2 (H2) receptor antagonists in treating gastric ulcers in horses. It was observed that these medications facilitated both endoscopic and clinical improvements in the conditions of the horses.

Study Details and Methodology

• The study involved 55 horses that were diagnosed with gastric ulcers, from which a group of 32 was selected for further endoscopic examinations before and after the treatment.
• The researchers observed various parts of the stomach region like the squamous fundus (sf), margo plicatus (mp), glandular fundus (gf), lesser curvature (lc), and cardia (car).
• The severity of the gastric lesions was recorded on a scorecard of 0-4, where 0 referred to no visible lesions and 4 indicated a severe condition.
• Gastric ulcers were most frequently observed in the margo plicatus part of the horse’s stomach and least in the glandular fundus.

Results and Observations

• Post-treatment, there was a considerable reduction in the lesion scores in every part of the horse’s stomach region under consideration.
• The magnitude of improvement and the time for total healing varied across different regions.
• Noticeable mean changes in lesion scores post-treatment occurred in all the regions, with the most significant reductions in margo plicatus and squamous fundus regions.

Clinical Improvements and Conclusions

• Clinical improvements were observed in 54 out of 55 treated horses. These improvements were in the form of reduced colic episodes, consistent weight gain, and an overall improvement in appetite.
• The research concluded that Histamine type 2 (H2) receptor antagonists effectively treat gastric ulcers in horses, as confirmed by endoscopic and clinical findings.