Gastric lesions

Gastric ulceration – see medicine

Gastric impactions

Gastric impactions are associated with non-nutritious feeds, irregular feeding, dental disease, defective gastric secretion, gastric atony, Senecio jacobae, persimmon seeds,mesquite beans, and pyloric stenosis. Friesians are predisposed.

Clinical signs include bruxism, anorexia, dysphagia, mild colic, and loss of condition

Treatment options include lavage via nasogastric tube – diet coke can help breakdown the fiber mat; external massage via celiotomy; injection of fluids via large bore needle or stab incision at celiotomy; and gastrotomy.

Gastric rupture can occur  secondary to grain overload, gastritis, impaction, nasogastric feeding, feeding lawn clippings, proximal enteritis and gastric endoscopy in foals. It is invariably fatal.