Gastric Ulceration - Horse

Gastric Ulceration - all species

• Affects the pars oesophagea (margo plicatus) in adults and foals.
• Due to parasites - Gasterophilus (Bots).
• Bots are not as common as they once were.
• Look like big pink maggots.
• Killed by Ivermectin.
• Gasterophilus leave large ulcers in glandular regions of the stomach.
  • Ulcers / erosions are quite deep.
• The parasites are believed to be non-pathogenic, but in large numbers they probably produce some discomfort and poor growth.
• Carcinoma can also produce ulceration in the stomach of the horse as, in other species.

• In foals, the glandular area may sometimes be affected.
  • This may be e.g. stress-related, or due to used of NSAIDs.