Prevalence of gastric ulcers in endurance horses--a preliminary report.
Gastric endoscopy was performed at the end of a 50 or 80 km endurance ride. Gastric ulceration was evident in 67% of the horses with ulcers on the squamous region of the stomach found in 57% of the horses and active bleeding of the glandular mucosa in 27%. Three horses (10%) had lesions only on the glandular mucosa. Values of albumin, creatinine and glucose were higher in horses without gastric lesions. We conclude that horses from endurance competitions have a high prevalence of gastric ulceration that is similar to that observed in performance horses. However the severity of ulceration is less severe than has been reported in Thoroughbred race horses in active training. Owners should be aware of the high prevalence of gastric ulceration in horses that perform in endurance competitions. The high incidence of active bleeding from the glandular mucosa of the stomach in these horses requires further investigation.
Nieto
Jorge E
JE
Comparative Gastroenterology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Surgical & Radiological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Tupper Hall Room 2112, One Shield Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. jenieto@ucdavis.edu
Snyder
Jack R
JR
Beldomenico
Pablo
P
Aleman
Monica
M
Kerr
James W
JW
Spier
Sharon J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D010807:Physical Endurance; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*