Gastric Impaction - Horse

Aetiology

Ingestion of coarse roughage (straw bedding, poor quality forage), foreign objects (rubber fencing) and feed that may swell after ingestion or improper mastication (sugar beet pulp) have been implicated (151-154) but a specific cause is not always apparent. Predisposing factors:

• Poor dentition
• Poor mastication
• Rapid consumption of feedstuffs
• Inadequate water consumption

Clinical Signs

Acute or chronic colic signs

• Anorexia
• Weight loss
• Spontaneous reflux in severe cases with gastric contents visible at the nares

Diagnosis

Often made at exploratory celiotomy if horse suffers from acute severe abdominal pain Endoscopy: full stomach after a normally adequate fast (18-24hrs) Abdominal radiography in smaller horses and ponies

Treatment

Analgesia Gastric lavage via nasogastric intubation Massage and injection of fluid to soften the imapction at surgery(151-3)