Can somebody tell me about a gastroscope?

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elb0801

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My horse is booked in for a scope for ulcers first thing Thursday morning. Can anybody tell me about the process? My vets are very lovely but its my first trip to a horse hospital and shes staying over on the Wednesday night so I'm a bit nervous :eek:

Is there anything you wish you'd known before hand?
 
Its a fascinating process to watch - really interesting. You may find it a bit distressing watching them insert the scope, as the horse can make some funny noises/look a bit wild eyed, but the vets at the hospital will be very used to dealing with it. Just look on it as a really positive thing - you'll get to see an interesting procedure, and they will hopefully diagnose what is wrong with your horse!

Spike had a couple of bots - i've never seen them in a horses stomach before. Horrible looking things!
 
It is really interesting. My boy was put in the stocks, then sedated, then they insert the tube up a nostril and away they go. The pictures are really clear and the vet will talk you through what they are seeing. Whole thing took about 20 mins then waited for the sedation to wear off and took him home. Although I was upset to see the ulcers, I have to say it's quite a nice stress free procedure on the whole.
 
Leave with out food for longer than 24 hours! I had a previous horse done a few times and she always needed 36 for the food to work it's way through
 
That video is really interesting! I am looking forward to it in an odd way.
Blitznbobs where did you have it done? You might be near me.

Wha did they advise as after care if ulcers are found?
 
elb0801 said:
That video is really interesting! I am looking forward to it in an odd way.
Blitznbobs where did you have it done? You might be near me.

Wha did they advise as after care if ulcers are found?
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For mine it's 8 weeks gastrogard, antibiotics and a drug called misoprostin(sp). Vet advised as much turnout as poss and ad lib hay when stabled. Also hard feed should be as low starch and sugar as poss. They also recommended a feed supplement called pronutrin but my boy refused to eat it.
 
kinnygirl1 said:
For mine it's 8 weeks gastrogard, antibiotics and a drug called misoprostin(sp). Vet advised as much turnout as poss and ad lib hay when stabled. Also hard feed should be as low starch and sugar as poss. They also recommended a feed supplement called pronutrin but my boy refused to eat it.
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what does misoprostin and pronutrin do?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to know as much as I can beforehand
 
elb0801 said:
36 hours? I think I'd have a riot on my hands
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My horse wasn't best impressed... But better than the 48 hours she had to wait first time round (she'd been shipped to the vets and had to stay in until the next day to try again with the scope)
 
elb0801 said:
what does misoprostin and pronutrin do?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to know as much as I can beforehand
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Misoprostin works on the glands and slows the production of acid giving the ulcers a chance to heal. It's a human drug, they have to order if from a human pharmacy but apparently works well on horses. Pronutrin is a supplement ... Think it just promotes a healthy gastric environment. I am 2weeks off rescoping my boy to see how hugs ulcers are healing so don't really know how well any of these things are working till then.....
 
Mine was starved for 12 hours, basically overnight his hay was taken away at 9pm, it worked well as I just had him in that night as he could not see any others getting fed next morning there was no riot, the vets came at 9.30 to start work, as yours is going in then they will decide when to stop feeding but I would feed until you get there unless told otherwise.
 
They've not told me to starve apart from when she gets there.

Sorry to hear about your experience Wench.

And thanks Kimmygirl1 it's really good to know some more infomation
 
My horse has recently been through the process of being scoped and had a stay at the hospital. They starve the horse for 18 hours and 12 hours without water.
Mine horse was found to have grade 3 out of 4 ulcers on the first scope, sent home with 4 weeks of Gastroguard and antibiotics. He was re-scoped after 4 weeks and 90% of the ulcers had healed.
Within the first 24 hours of being home he was a different horse.
Good luck!
Don't worry about asking the vet tons of questions, I spoke to the treating vet for about 30 minutes making sure I knew everything and how to manage him afterwards.
The best bit of advice I got was to feed him before work, just a little bit of chaff but it stops the awful bucking he was displaying!
However my horse is a very interesting clinical case as he has numerous health issues that relate to his ulcers!
 
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