Gastric Disease Syndrome Flashcards
What are the causes of gastric disease syndrome?
Dilation
Impaction
Rupture
Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS)
Tumors (SCC)
General CS associated with gastric disease syndrome
Painful abdomen (mild to severe)
From off feed → depression and colic (laying sternal or violent rolling)
Progression → uncontrolled pain, damage/ alteration of gastric tissue, endotoxemia → death
Gastric dilation
Secondary to intestinal ileus
Backflow of gas/ fluid into stomach (reflux)
Build up of pressure not moving through GI
What is gastric dilation associated with?
CHO, feed fermentation, proximal duodenal-jejunitis
Refeeding injury or parasites (bots)
CS of gastric dilation
Anorexia, depression, or mild to moderate signs of colic
Gastric dilation dx
Endoscopy*
Rads/ US for small horses
Emptying time test
What can happen with prolonged gastric dilation?
Damage to nerves and muscle due to over stretching
Future dilations or impactions
Client education for gastric dilation
Multiple small meals, chopped/ soaked quality hay, 1-2 tbs salt, fresh water, mash of senior chow
Gradually reintroduce normal feed
Avoid lush/ spring pasture
Tx for gastric dilation
Decompress PRN
IV fluids, electrolytes replacement, analgesics, anti-inflamms
Gastric impaction
Masses of large amounts of compacted, soft to doughy or hardened material
+/- gas or fluid
Rare (1%), fast eaters, social standing, starvation
What is gastric impaction associated with?
Lack of deworming (parasites, bots, tapeworms- Anaplocephala perfoliata)
No access to water
Consumption of large amounts of feed
Eat feeds that swell (dehydrated feed)→ consumption of material that expands with water
Refeeding a starved horse
Primary causes of gastric impaction
Functional or anatomic defects:
↓ gastric emptying, acid secretion, pyloric strictures, chronic dilation
Secondary causes of gastric impaction
Poor mastication, FB, dehydration, hepatic dz, any GI disturbance resulting in ileus, refeeding injury
CS of gastric impaction
Inappetence to acute colic
Signs of shock
Duration: hours to months
DX of gastric impaction
Gastric endoscopy: finding feed after withholding food/ water for 18- 24hr*
US (smaller horses with distended stomachs)
Peritoneal tap (transudate/ exudate, fibrous matter)
Hematology (systemic inflamm)
Rectal palpation (+/-displaced spleen)
Tx for gastric impaction
Decompress PRN, IV fluids
Breakdown mass: diocytl sodium succinate
Laxatives: MgSO4 (stomach filled halfway or less)
Anti-inflamms, analgesics, abx
What broad spectrum abx are given if the gastric impaction ruptures?
Ceftiofur + gentamicin
Crystalline penicillin + gentamicin