Changes

**Gastric ulcers have adversely affected physiological indices of performance in horses.<ref>Nieto, J.E, Snyder, J.R, Vatistas, N.J, Jones, J.H (2009) Effect of gastric ulceration on physiologic responses to exercise in horses.  ''Am J Vet Res'', 70(6):787-95.</ref>

**Gastric ulcers have adversely affected physiological indices of performance in horses.<ref>Nieto, J.E, Snyder, J.R, Vatistas, N.J, Jones, J.H (2009) Effect of gastric ulceration on physiologic responses to exercise in horses.  ''Am J Vet Res'', 70(6):787-95.</ref>

Signs of gastroduodenal ulcer disease (GDUD)<ref name="Sanchez">Sanchez, L.C (2010) 'Diseases Of The Stomach' in  Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), Saunders, Chapter 15.</ref>:

 

*Colic

Many are asymptomatic and some only exhibit signs when ulceration has become severe.  Glandular ulcers are considered the most significant<ref name="Sanchez">Sanchez, L.C (2010) 'Diseases Of The Stomach' in  Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), Saunders, Chapter 15.</ref>

*Poor appetite

*Diarrhoea

*Diarrhoea

5 syndromes in foals: silent, active with clinical signs, perforated, gastric  and duodenal stenosis, general malaise and low grade colic

In foals with outflow obstruction distal to the common bile duct, marked reflux may be seen even with limited suckling.<ref name="Sanchez">Sanchez, L.C (2010) 'Diseases Of The Stomach' in  Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), Saunders, Chapter 15.</ref>  GDUD is the primary differentila for ptyalism in foals, other possible diagnoses include oesophageal obstruction and ''Candida'' infection.<ref name="Merck">Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition), Merial</ref>

Sudden gastric perforation without prior signs occurs sporadically in foals.<ref name="Merck">Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition), Merial</ref>

   

Complications related to gastric ulcers are most frequent and severe in foals and include perforation, delayed gastric emptying, gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis, and megaesophagus secondary to chronic gastroesophageal reflux. Ulcers in the proximal duodenum or at the pylorus can cause fibrosis and stricture. The latter complication is seen in both foals and adult horses. In rare cases, severe gastric ulceration causes fibrosis and contracture of the stomach.<ref name="Merck">Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition), Merial</ref>

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==