Gastroscopy Guide for Horse Owners

Preparation

• Your horse’s stomach needs to be empty for the vet to be able to see its lining.
• It is important to starve your horse of food before gastroscopy.
• Remove feed and hay the night before.
• Ensure there is plenty of clean fresh water.
• Ensure your horse can’t eat its bedding; shavings are preferable to straw.

Diagnostic Procedure

• The procedure will last approximately 60 minutes.
• Your horse will be given standing sedation.
• The gastroscopy involves a 3.3 metre long endoscopic video camera being inserted into the nostril down the oesophagus to view the stomach.
• There are typically no side-effects from the procedure, although uncommonly some horses may experience a brief self-resolving nose bleed.
• The vet will then be able to thoroughly explain any diagnosis, treatment and aftercare plan.

After care

• Check with the vet how long you should wait for after sedation to be able to safely feed, transport or turn out your horse.

Horse owner’s guide to: Horse Owners Guide to EGUS