ZusammenfassungMagenerkrankungen kommen bei Pferden häufig vor, stellen jedoch für den Tierarzt oftmals eine Herausforderung dar. Dies ist zum einen darin begründet, dass der Magen aufgrund seiner anatomischen Lage schwer zugänglich ist. Schlüsselwörter: Magen / Pferd / Diagnostik / Therapie / Gastroskopie Diagnostic and treatment of equine stomach diseasesGastric diseases are very common in horses but can be a diagnostic challenge for the veterinarian. This is on the one hand caused by the fact that the stomach is not easily accessible due to its anatomic location. On the other hand associated clinical symptoms can be variable as well as non-specific, so it is often not easy to interpret them. Furthermore, symptoms do not correlate with the severity of the diseaseresulting in the fact that a gastric disorder is often diagnosed late in its course. Diagnostic tools are endoscopy of the stomach (gastroscopy), which often enables to diagnose the disease itself, as well as sonography, transendoscopic biopsy, examination of faeces and laboratory tests. Apart from endoscopy, all examination techniques have limited informative value. Gastric ulcers are very common in horses. They occur in both foals and adult horses and their aetiology is often multifactorial including keeping and feeding management, training and stress, as well as NSAIDs. Involvement of Helicobacter pylori/equorum has been previously discussed. For prevention or therapy of gastric ulcers a strict feeding regime has to be introduced and the horses should be treated with omeprazole. Acute and chronic gastric dilations can be causes for abdominal pain in horses, and treatment attempts with nasogastric tubing and lavation should be made. As a consequence of gastric dilation gastric rupture can occur. Prognosis in this case is hopeless. Other gastric diseases can be due to parasites or neoplasia.

Highlights Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are detected in Japanese Akita dogs. Healthy Akitas show a higher level of vitamin D than pathological ones. Depigmented skin areas appearance is associated with low levels of vitamin D. Sebaceous adenitis is the prevalent disease recorded among investigated Akitas.