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Guide to Equine Gastroscopy

06/06/2022

equine gastroscope

Gastroscopy is a relatively common procedure used to look inside a horse’s stomach, often to diagnose stomach ulcers. This guide outlines how an equine gastroscope works, as well as the symptoms of equine gastric ulcers. 

 

What is an Equine Gastroscope?

An equine gastroscope is used to look inside a horse’s stomach. It allows a vet to check for ulcers, which can cause pain and discomfort to horses. It is essentially a long, flexible tube with a camera on the end, which can also blow and suck air and water into and out of the stomach. The scope is over 3m long and the end portion can be steered to help with examining the entire stomach. Once in, we are able to visualise all around the stomach wall and down to the pylorus (exit point of the stomach).

Gastroscopy is the only definitive way to diagnose gastric ulcers in horses. The symptoms presented do not necessarily reflect the severity of the gastric ulcers. For example, some horses with severe gastric ulcers may present relatively mild symptoms. Therefore, a gastroscope is necessary to understand the full extent of the problem.


Symptoms of Ulcers in Horses

 Horses with gastric ulcers can present with a number of different symptoms including:

  • Poor performance – reluctance to go forward, bucking/rearing when pressured
  • Changes in behaviour – acting "grumpy" or being aggressive
  • Reactive when being girthed or groomed around stomach
  • Poor appetite
  • Losing condition despite adequate feeding
  • Kicking out when eating

 

Horses suffering with gastric ulcers can become difficult to ride and handle. If you are concerned that your horse may have gastric ulcers, please call the practice and a vet can discuss your horse’s symptoms.

You can learn more about the causes and symptoms of gastric ulcers in horses with our guide.

 

What Happens During A Gastroscopy?

Horses need to be starved for around 12 hours before their gastroscope to ensure their stomach is sufficiently empty for the wall to be visualised. This can be done here in the clinic or in your own stables. We also place a muzzle on the horse as when bored and hungry, many horses will resort to eating their bedding.

 We sedate all horses for gastroscopy as this helps make it a calmer experience for the horse.  A dental gag is placed on the horse and opened slightly as this helps to prevent the horse biting on the gastroscope if it flexes back into their mouth.  The gastroscope is passed up one nostril to the larynx and the entrance of the oesophagus, where the horse will need to swallow the scope for it to pass into the oesophagus. Some horses find this stage slightly unpleasant, but once the scope is down into their stomach most horses remain settled for the rest of the procedure.

 

Gastroscope Clinics at Avonvale Equine Vet Practice

We run regular gastroscopy clinics for new and existing clients, which offer the procedure at a discounted rate, including VAT and sedation. For further details or to book onto our next gastroscope clinic, please keep an eye on our social media for details or call the practice on 01295 670 501 for more information and to book.

We can also perform equine gastroscopes in the clinic and at your yard at a time to suit you. If you are concerned about gastric ulcers, or you want to find out more about our gastroscopy services, please register your horse with us today or call reception to enquire.

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