CHRONIC PRIMARY GASTRIC DILATION IN HORSES - CASE-REPORT

This study recounts the case of a horse with chronic primary gastric dilation. Over an extended period of rime, the animal had shown signs of weight loss and diminished performance, as well as mild recurrent colic symptoms. Its condition did nor improve following admission to the clinic. Rectal palpation revealed a hardened growth in the left, cranioventral region of the abdomen, the dimensions of which were too large to determine. Upon laparotomy, the grossly-enlarged stomach (length of the curvature major = 148 cm, filled weight = 55,3 kilograms) was seen to be lying against the ventral wall of the abdomen. The gastric contents were highly compacted and possessed an odor reminiscent of silage. An attempt was made to explain the etiology of this illness on the basis of the small amount of scientific documentation, primarily limited to older literature. Possibilities that came in question included: consumption of large amounts of voluminous feed; weakened intramural gastric connective tissue; consumption of sand or gravel; sucking of air; atony or insufficient gastric motility; loss of innervation; circular stenoses or tumorous growths in the pyloric region. The cause of the present case could not be determined.