A Look Inside a Horse's Stomach

Blackfoot

Tools

Story Published: Jan 8, 2008 at 6:33 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 12:16 PM MST

By Sarah Schwabe

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The latest and greatest technology in animal medicine has made its way to Eastern Idaho. Channel 3 Eyewitness News Reporter Sarah Schwabe has the story.

It's called a gastroscope, and it's one of only 3 in the entire state.

This is an inside look at a horse's stomach, something that Dr. Jason Moulton at the Animal Health Clinic in Blackfoot has never been able to see before.

"Before we could see the upper respiratory and the top part of the esophagus," says Veterinarian Jason Moulton, "with the scope, we can actually go down there and look and see if there are ulcers and treat them appropriately."

Which was the main reason for buying the $14,000 piece of equipment. Now Moulton can accurately diagnose and treat ulcers, saving his customers some serious dough, considering ulcers are becoming more common among horses.

"Even as high as 50-70% of horse in general have ulcers," says Moulton.

Aside from ulcers, the scope can also track down insects that have taken up residence in the stomach lining.

"The amount of horses that we thought had been appropriately de-wormed, we're seeing lots of Bot Flies, or Bot larvae that are hanging on the stomachs of horses that to our knowledge and what we thought we appropriately wormed, were not," says Moulton.

Whether treating ulcers, or spraying bugs, Moulton says having the equipment is a win-win for the clinic and for the region.

The gastroscope is primarily for horses, but can used on other animals. It's great for removing foreign objects inside a dog's stomach, and examining inner ears.

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