Stomach Rupture

• Occurs in:
  • Dogs
    • Seen in animals that develop torsion of the stomach; however, they usually die first.
  • Horses
    • The equine stomach may rupture if the animal eats too much, as the horse cannot vomit.

Pathogenesis

• Rupture usually occurs along greater curvature.
• While the muscle ruptures, the mucosa does not as it is much more flexible.
  • Occasionally stomach ruptures completely.
• Bacteria invade the abdomen, producting peritonitis.
  • Horses are acutely sensitive to peritonitis (ruminants are much less so).
  • This makes rupture acutely fatal, but animals usually die first from shock.

Note

• Post- mortem rupture of the stomach may be seen in horses that have been dead for a few days.
  • This is due to gas accumulation
• Ante-mortem rupture usually has haemorrhage associated with edges of lesion.