Treatment of Gastrointestinal Obstruction – Stomach Impaction, Ileal Impaction, and Cecal Impaction - Proceedings of AAEP Focus Meeting - Quebec, 2005

Impaction of the stomach typically consists of excessive dry, fibrous ingesta, but may also be composed of ingested materials that form a mass, such as persimmon seeds or mesquite beans. Other feeds that tend to swell after ingestion, including wheat, barley, and sugar beet pulp, may also cause impaction. Furthermore, dental disease may increase the likelihood of gastric impaction because of improper chewing of feed. Clinical signs of colic range from acute and severe to chronic and mild. For example, in one report on 4 horses with gastric impaction, colic was moderate or severe and of 8-12 hours’ duration, whereas in another report on a pony with gastric impaction, colic was chronic (7 days’ duration), associated with prolonged recumbency, anorexia, and lethargy. Additional signs may include dysphagia, dropping of feed, and bruxism. However, the diagnosis of stomach impaction is usually made at surgery on horses that have had uncontrollable colic or poor response to medical therapy. However, endoscopy will reveal gastric impaction, and may provide information on the specific nature of the impaction. Although this would not typically be performed on an acute colic case, it would be indicated in a horse with chronic colic.