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A48 TheHorse.com/AAEP2017 AAEP Wrap-Up THE HORSE March 2018 YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2017 AAEP CONVENTION the horses and scoped them for gastric ulcers on Days 0, 24, and 55. The study horses were part of CSU's Legends of Ranching Program, which comprises young Quarter Horses being prepped for auction by CSU students. Prior to the study horses had been kept on drylots and had been handled but not rid- den. Horses were acclimated to the study diet starting 10 days prior to the research, and on Day 0 the researchers moved the horses to individual stalls. During the study the horses were started under saddle and exercised at a moderate level. The team found no significant differ- ence in the two groups' body condition and weight at any point in the study. However, by Day 24 the horses fed their grain twice a day had significantly higher ulcer scores than those fed grain using the automated feeder. By Day 55 there was no significant difference in ulcer scores between treatment groups; how- ever, the twice-daily grain-fed horses still had higher average ulcer scores. Consistent with other research, squa- mous ulcer incidence was higher than glandular ulcer incidence. The fact that differences in the groups' scores were no longer significant at Day 55 was interest- ing, said Bass. He noted that this might have been due to these young horses acclimating to the stress of new housing, management, and lifestyle. Unfortunately, he said, it was not possible to conduct the study for a longer period because the horses were due to be sold. Phenylbutazone vs. Firocoxib: Which Causes More Severe Gastric Ulcers? Researchers from Texas A&M; Uni- versity recently compared two types of NSAIDs' effects on gastric ulceration in horses. Lauren M. Richardson, DVM, a resident in large animal surgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in College Station, shared their findings. These drugs work by reducing prostaglandins—chemicals in the body that promote inflammation, pain, and fever. Prostaglandins are produced by enzymes called cyclooxygenases (COX), of which there are two main types: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 performs functions such as protecting the stomach lining and promoting blood clotting. COX-2, on the other hand, is produced under certain circumstances in response to cytokines (inflammatory mediators), resulting in inflammation, pain, and fever. When veterinarians administer NSAIDs that block prostaglandin formation, stomach acid can damage the tissue, potentially causing ulcers. Fortunately, COX-2-selective NSAIDs exist that only block COX-2 prostaglandin production. However, we don't know whether these COX-2-selective NSAIDs cause less GI injury than nonselective NSAIDs. The team compared the effects of firocoxib (a COX-2-selective NSAID) and phenylbutazone (a nonselective NSAID) on gastric ulceration in adult horses. They used fecal myeloperoxidase (MPO, a protein released during acute inflamma- tion) as a marker of lower GI tract injury. They randomly assigned 10 adult hors- es to one of each of the treatment groups (firocoxib administered at 0.1 mg/kg once a day or phenylbutazone administered at 4.4 mg/kg once a day) and five horses to a control group that received a placebo. The team administered treatments for 10 days and collected fecal samples on Days 0, 10, and 20. They also scoped the horses for gastric ulcers on Days 0 and 10. Horses in both treatment groups had significantly higher squamous gastric ulceration scores than the horses in the control group at Day 10. Similarly, both treatments resulted in significantly more ulcers in the glandular portion than in controls. However, said Richardson, on Day 10 horses receiving phenylbutazone The industry's first 5-year DR Flat Panel Warranty NOW! The new exclusive Portable X-ray Unit VIP LIFETIME WARRANTY Lifetime Repair • Hot Swap Replacement vetxray.com/service/warranty 90KvP/30mA 15 pounds Ultra 9030Hf 120KvP/40mA 25 pounds Ultra 12040Hf QUALITY | INTEGRITY | VALUE since 1983 • Fast and Durable • Superior Software • CsI Pixel Pitch – 76 μm • Lightweight Wireless 10" x 12" • 5 yr hardware & software warranty Ask about our Price Match Guarantee 1-866-820-1694 Using an automated feeder to provide grain in fractionated meals might help reduce the prevalence of gastric ulcers in horses in training.