Performance Equine now has a 3 meter endoscope!! What does this mean? It means we can now do gastroscopy in order to properly diagnose conditions such as gastric ulcers, phytobezoars, pyloric stenosis, and other disorders of the equine stomach .
The most common use for this scope will be to diagnose gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers are ulcerations in the lining of the stomach. Having your horse’s stomach scoped is the only definitive way to diagnose your horse with gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers are a common problem in horses, and all ages and breeds are susceptible. Gastric ulcers can lead to a variety of symptoms including acute colic, recurrent colic, chronic diarrhea, poor weight gain, decreased appetite, attitude changes, and even poor performance. There are increased risk factors for your horse developing ulcers, which include any type of stress, recent travel, a high grain diet, stall confinement, and NSAID use (such as Bute or Banamine). Once ulcers are diagnosed and proper treatment is done, many owners report improvement in attitude, body condition, and performance of their horse.
Scoping allows us to visualize the inside of the stomach so we can see if ulcers are present and the severity of the ulcers. Your horse will be sedated for the procedure. The endoscope is passed through the horse’s nostrils down his esophagus into his stomach. We are able to fully visualize the lining of the stomach and the opening into the small intestine, where ulcers can also be present. Your horse will also need to be properly fasted for this procedure.
Please call the office if you would like to schedule a scope or would like more information.
