Question

The typical sign of gastric ulcer in foals is:

• A. Teeth grinding
• B. Abdominal pain
• C. Salivation
• D. Anorexia

Hint:

Whenever a clinical question mentions a foal showing "teeth grinding" (bruxism) and "lying on its back" (dorsal recumbency), your immediate diagnostic suspect should be gastric ulcers.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a highly prevalent disease in neonatal and growing foals.
Foals exhibit distinctive clinical signs that differ from adult horses due to differences in gastric pH, stomach anatomy, and pain expression.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us examine the clinical presentations:
- Teeth grinding (Bruxism): This is widely recognized as the most classic, pathognomonic clinical sign of gastric ulceration in foals.
It is a direct response to visceral discomfort and gastric acid irritating the esophageal or gastric mucosa.
- Abdominal pain (Colic): Foals do show colic (often rolling onto their backs/dorsal recumbency), but colic is a general sign of many gastrointestinal issues and is not as specific as bruxism.
- Salivation (Ptyalism): Foals with ulcers do drool, but it typically occurs concurrently with teeth grinding and is less frequently the primary diagnostic sign.
- Anorexia: Poor appetite and interrupted nursing are common, but these are general signs of systemic illness.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the most typical and classic sign of gastric ulcer in foals is teeth grinding (bruxism).