Discussion

Klohnen, A.
Aims: Enterolithiasis is a recognised cause of acute abdomen in horses, due to partial or complete obstruction of the large intestine. While gastric ulcers have been diagnosed in horses with colic, including horses with enterolithiasis, it is unknown if these 2 diseases are statistically associated. We hypothesised that horses affected by enterolithiasis have a higher prevalence of gastric ulceration when compared to horses with large intestinal simple obstructions due to other causes. To test this hypothesis, we compared the prevalence of gastric ulceration in horses with enterolithiasis to horses with other types of large intestinal simple obstruction. Methods: A retrospective case control study was designed, and medical records from 1999 to 2011 were examined. Horses that had surgery for removal of one or more enteroliths were included as 'case horses'. Patients that had surgery for large intestinal simple obstructions other than enterolithiasis were identified as 'control horses' and were matched to case horses for age, sex and breed. Results: A total of 148 horses were identified as 'cases'. Gastric ulcers were diagnosed during hospitalisation in 101 (68%), while 46 of 148 matched control horses (31%) had gastric ulcers. There was a significant association between enterolithiasis and gastric ulceration (odds ratio 4.76, P<0.0001) and a greater prevalence in Thoroughbreds as compared to other breeds (odds ratio 22.6, P<0.0001), indicating a breed predilection in the horses included in this study. Conclusions and practical significance: Based on the positive association noted in this study, a gastroscopy would be indicated for all horses diagnosed with enterolithiasis.