What is it?
It is a procedure that allows us to see all the way into your horse’s digestive tract as far as the end of the stomach with a camera and a light. We also have a screen that you can watch the procedure on, and we can video and take pictures as we look around.
Why do we do it?
To investigate many complaints such as poor performance, sensitivity being brushed, sensitivity with tack, resenting mounting, bucking/rearing, napping, or any sudden change in behaviour. Weight loss can also occur as the horse may not be eating as well as normal. Mild or intermittent colic signs can be seen as well as crib biting or wind sucking. The coat may be drier and more dull than normal.
How do we do it?
Under sedation the tube containing the camera is passed up one side of the nostril to the back of the throat and down the oesophagus into the stomach.
The horse must be starved overnight, ideally for 10-12 hours with water withheld for 2 hours before the procedure. The horse must also be stabled on non-edible bedding or wear a muzzle so no bedding can be eaten.
If the horse has eaten, then the stomach will be full of food and the camera cannot see around it.
We can provide more information on this when booking in.
Why can I not just treat my horse with some medication and see if it works?
We now know that there are two distinct forms of ulcers that occur in the horse; squamous ulcers (occur in the top part of the stomach) Equine Squamous Gastric Disease EGSD and glandular ulcers (that occur in the bottom part of the stomach) Equine Glandular Ulcer Syndrome EGUS.
Both these diseases can occur together or just one of the other. Some medication treats them both and some just one or the other. The trouble with just giving medication is we may have no idea if it worked or not. Something else may have also changed at the same time or the wrong medication may have been used so wasn’t effective.
It is also important to note that the gastroscope is the cheapest part of the investigation, around a ¼ cheaper than the medications needed and so can save you money in the long run if the medication is not required. Also, if insured the insurance company will require a diagnosis before covering the cost of treatment.
