Resistance to rupture of the equine stomach

Equine colic is an important and common cause of disease and death in horses. Gastric rupture has been extensively described in the literature, and is known to affect expressive numbers of horses. Gastric dilatation, which precedes rupture, may be observed when the animal consumes large amounts of recently harvested grass or drinks water too fast, though diagnosis criteria also include infestation with Gastherophilus and the presence of ileus and distal intestinal obstructions. The objective of the present study was to determine the resistance to rupture of the equine stomach to air (mm Hg) and water (L) injection. Forty stomachs of young horses (20 geldings and 20 mares) with no defined breed were analyzed. Total organ length (cm), weight (g), greater curved length (cm), lesser curved length (cm) and height (cm) were measured, with no statistical difference between males and females (p > .05). However, stomachs of horses were larger than those of mares and therefore presented higher volumetric capacity (p