Title:
Investigation of a Fecal Marker for Equine Gastric Disease
Investigators:
Canaan Whitfield-Cargile, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR
Michelle Coleman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
For more information or to enroll your horse in the study, please contact the UGA Large Animal Teaching Hospital at 706-542-3223 or Lisa Reno, Clinical Trials Coordinator, at 706-296-7818 or [email protected].
Study Description:
Gastric ulcers are a prevalent and painful condition in horses, affecting over 50% of the population, particularly those involved in performance activities. Traditional diagnostic methods, like gastroscopy, are invasive and costly, leading many horses to be treated based on presumptive diagnoses. Our study aims to change that by investigating a fecal marker for equine gastric ulcers.
Eligibility:
- Horses between 2 and 25 years old
- Must not have received antibiotics in the last 30 days
- Undergoing gastroscopy to confirm the presence or absence of ulcers
- Fecal sample collection at the time of gastroscopy
While diagnostic and treatment costs remain the responsibility of the horse owner, the collection and analysis of fecal samples will be covered by study funds.
Potential Benefits to Veterinary Medicine:
Participants will be contributing to a groundbreaking study that could transform how equine gastric diseases are diagnosed and managed. Help us improve the welfare of horses by developing a quick, affordable, and non-invasive test for equine gastric ulcers!
