Services > Internal Medicine > Alimentary Disorders and Weight Loss Investigation

Alimentary Disorders and Weight Loss Investigation

Alimentary disorders and weight loss are relatively common problems for horses and our internal medicine team, based at the hospital, have particular interests in such cases.

Studies have shown that gastric ulceration is an extremely common problem, particularly in racehorses and in foals. Andrew McGladdery, an expert in equine internal medicine, has taken the lead both in documenting the prevalence of this problem in Thoroughbreds based in Newmarket and in developing better strategies to treat and prevent this problem.

Ulcers occur in the oesophagus, the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Signs may include poor athletic performance, weight loss and colic. Horses may also have an unthrifty appearance and mild diarrhoea. In foals, teeth grinding (a sign of pain) and excessive salivation are common. Our videoendoscopy system is of sufficient length to examine and biopsy not only the stomach but the duodenum in adult horses.

We have extensive facilities for investigation of other alimentary disorders and cases with weight loss. Abdominal ultrasonography requires a range of specialised probes to examine all sizes and shapes of animals and, working closely with our colleagues in Beaufort Cottage Laboratories, allows us to rapidly report results of intestinal, liver and renal biopsies. Celia Marr has a particular interest in applying novel scintigraphic (bone scanning) techniques to identify tumours and abscesses that may be impossible to identify using conventional imaging. Where appropriate, a medical investigation will be conducted in collaboration with colleagues from our surgical team to perform procedures such as laparoscopy of the abdomen (keyhole surgery).