High intake of sugars and starch, low number of meals and low roughage intake are associated with equine gastric ulcer syndrome in a Belgian cohort

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a pathological condition affecting the glandular and squamous regions of the stomach. It is characterized by non-specific clinical signs, behavioural changes or can also be found without any overt clinical manifestations. Nutritional factors such as intermittent feeding, high sugars and starch intake, large amounts of straw as forage and prolonged time without access to forage have all been associated with an increased risk of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). The aim of this study was to investigate which nutritional practices are commonly seen in clinical ESGD cases in Belgium. Medical records of 27 horses referred to the equine nutritional service at Ghent University (2013-2018) due to equine gastric ulcer lesions were reviewed. Twenty-one healthy horses referred for dietary evaluation during the same period were selected as control cases (CC). Dietary evaluation was performed on an individual basis. Forage/concentrate ratio on dry matter basis, forage content in the diet, total dietary sugars and starch intake per day and per meal were analysed. Retrospective descriptive and statistical analyses were performed. Significantly, higher amounts of forage intake (%DM per BW) in the CC vs. ESGD group were noted (p <= .05) with average values of 1.39 (SD +/- 0.27) and 1.27 (SD +/- 0.70) respectively. There were no significant differences for sugars and starch intake in g/kg BW/day (p = .18). However, the sugars and starch intake per meal (g/kg BW/meal) in the CC group (average value 1.06, SD +/- 0.56) was significantly (p < .001) lower than in the EGUS group (average value 1.85 SD +/- 0.78). Forage intake below the recommended absolute minimum value as well as high sugars and starch intake were most commonly associated with EGUS in the present case series. An adequate diet formulation taking into account these main nutritional factors is therefore essential to avoid gastric problems in horses

Review: Feeding conserved forage to horses: recent advances and recommendations

The horse is a non-ruminant herbivore adapted to eating plant-fibre or forage-based diets. Some horses are stabled for most or the majority of the day with limited or no access to fresh pasture and are fed preserved forage typically as hay or haylage and sometimes silage. This raises questions with respect to the quality and suitability of these preserved forages (considering production, nutritional content, digestibility as well as hygiene) and required quantities. Especially for performance horses, forage is often replaced with energy dense feedstuffs which can result in a reduction in the proportion of the diet that is forage based. This may adversely affect the health, welfare, behaviour and even performance of the horse. In the past 20 years a large body of research work has contributed to a better and deeper understanding of equine forage needs and the physiological and behavioural consequences if these are not met. Recent nutrient requirement systems have incorporated some, but not all, of this new knowledge into their recommendations. This review paper amalgamates recommendations based on the latest understanding in forage feeding for horses, defining forage types and preservation methods, hygienic quality, feed intake behaviour, typical nutrient composition, digestion and digestibility as well as health and performance implications. Based on this, consensual applied recommendations for feeding preserved forages are provided

Identification of modifiable factors associated with owner-reported equine laminitis in Britain using a web-based cohort study approach

Equine laminitis is a complex disease that manifests as pain and lameness in the feet, often with debilitating consequences. There is a paucity of data that accounts for the multifactorial nature of laminitis and considers time-varying covariates that may be associated with disease development; particularly those that are modifiable and present potential interventions. A previous case-control study identified a number of novel, modifiable factors associated with laminitis which warranted further investigation and corroboration. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with equine laminitis in horses/ponies in Great Britain (GB) using a prospective, web-based cohort study design, with particular interest in evaluating modifiable factors previously identified in the case-control study

The prevalence and anatomical distribution of equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) in 201 horses in Denmark

Summary: Reasons for performing study: The prevalence (up to 93% in Thoroughbred racehorses) and severity of equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) have been correlated with the type of training and associated management practices. However, there have been few reports to confirm these findings in nonracehorses in Europe. Objectives: To describe the prevalence, anatomical distribution, severity and number of gastric ulceration lesions in a population of Danish pleasure horses; and to investigate differences for groups based on age, breed type and workload. Methods: A total of 201 horses not in active race-training, age 7 months-27 years, were evaluated, representing 23 different stables from all 5 regions of Denmark. These horses were considered to be healthy by the owner and not on veterinary treatment for EGUS. Endoscopically observed ulcer lesion scores were based on the number present (0–4) and severity (0–5). The presence or absence of ulcers in the glandular and/or nonglandular regions of the stomach was recorded and which site the most severe ulcers were found. Results: The prevalence of EGUS severity score ≥2 was 53%. The most severe lesions were commonly observed at the margo plicatus.Although older horses were not more likely to be affected by clinically significant EGUS they were more likely to have lesions in both the glandular and nonglandular regions. Differences in location of EGUS lesions were identified in different age groups, breed types and in horses exposed to different levels of work. Conclusion and potential relevance: This study confirms that gastric ulceration can be prevalent in a group of apparently clinically normal horses, not in intensive work. Further investigation of reasons for differences in EGUS location between different populations may aid toward the development of novel preventive measures

Trends in crime revisited

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:4326.110(195) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Association between owner-perceived clinical signs and the presence of equine glandular disease on endoscopy

Background: Reporting clinical symptomology of equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) and trying to establish clinical significance is challenging. Most signs are nonspecific, subjective and often ownerperceived. This is complicated further by the fact that some horses with EGGD may not demonstrate clinical signs, and there is currently little evidence to support an association between these signs and the presence of EGGD on gastroscopy. Objectives: To determine if there is an association between ownerperceived clinical signs and the presence of EGGD on gastroscopy. Study design: Multicentre prospective cohort study. Methods: A questionnaire detailing the observation of relevant clinical signs was completed by horse-owners immediately prior to the horse undergoing gastroscopy. The study included 67 horses with EGGD and 78 horses with a normal stomach. Horses with concomitant squamous lesions were excluded. The data were analysed using binary logistic regression modelling. Results: All EGGD lesion types and severity were represented in the study. With the exception of resentment of grooming, none of the clinical signs under investigation were significantly associated with the presence of EGGD. Resentment of grooming was associated with reduced odds of the presence of EGGD (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.13–0.78) and was therefore not likely to be clinically relevant. The distribution of clinical signs observed in horses both with and without EGGD was remarkably similar and may be explained by an observer-expectancy effect resulting in confirmation bias. Main limitations: Horse-owners were relied upon to report clinical signs, and therefore they may not have been an accurate reflection of the actual signs displayed by the horse. Conclusions: Observation and reporting of characteristic clinical signs of EGGD by owners is not a useful determinant of whether or not a horse is affected by EGGD. Further investigation into the association between clinical signs of EGGD and specific lesion types or severity may be warranted. Ethical animal research: Ethical approval obtained by the RVC Social Sciences Research Ethical Review Board (URN SR2017-1332). Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained for all horses included in the study. Competing interests: None declared. Sources of funding: None