Effects of a nutraceutical supplement in the management of mild equine squamous gastric disease in endurance horses

Abstract

Introduction: Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) may require prolonged treatments with acid suppressants; therefore, interest in nutraceutical supplements with anti-ulcerogenic properties has increased. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of Trophogast pellet for the treatment of ESGD in endurance horses. Material and methods: Fifteen endurance horses were included based on their gastroscopic examination and randomly assigned to a treatment group, receiving Trophogast pellet for 30 days together with management changes, or to a control group, only subjected to management modifications. At the end of treatment, gastroscopy was repeated. Scores were assigned according to the Equine Gastric Ulcer Council scoring system. All horses were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the study. ESGD grades and weight before and after treatment were compared. Results: At enrolment, median ESGD score in the treatment group was 2, while in the control group it was 1. After the treatment period, a significant decrease in ESGD grade was observed in the treatment group (median 1, p = 0.0078), while there was no change in the control group (median 2). No significant weight change was observed in either group. Conclusion: Trophogast pellet was effective at promoting healing of mild ESGD in endurance horses.

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome affects fitness parameters in poorly performing Standardbred racehorses

“…A videogastroscope (PV-G 34-325, Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), connected to an aspirator pump (208-ACH, Faset, Trezzano sul Naviglio, Italy), was passed through the left nasal passages, nasopharynx, esophagus, until the stomach was visualized. To enable observation of the squamous and glandular mucosae, the margo plicatus and the pylorus, the stomach was insufflated with air and the mucosa was rinsed of adherent food material and mucus with water (46). The squamous mucosa was graded for ESGD using the Equine Gastric Ulcer Council 0-4 scoring system (2), while the glandular mucosa was evaluated for presence or absence of EGGD, as recommended by the European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement (1).…”

Effects of the Ingestion of Ripe Mangoes on the Squamous Gastric Region in the Horse

“…Video gastroscopies were performed following the method described in the literature [ 2 , 21 , 22 ] using a 3-m video gastroscope (Tele-View USB Gastroscope, Advanced Monitors Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA). The examinations were performed on six occasions with 15-day intervals, as follows: preharvest 1 (30 days before), preharvest 2 (15 days before), harvest 1 (15 days of harvest), harvest 2 (30 days of harvest), postharvest 1 (15 days after), and postharvest 2 (30 days after).…”