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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Secondary gastric impaction associated with ragwort poisoning in three ponies.

Journal:
The Veterinary record
Year:
1990
Authors:
Milne, E M et al.
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies
Species:
horse

Plain-English summary

Three ponies were found to have serious health issues after eating ragwort, a plant that can cause liver problems. In these cases, the ponies developed a blockage in their stomachs, which is known as gastric impaction. This blockage was severe enough that it either led to their deaths or required them to be put to sleep to prevent suffering. Unfortunately, the treatment did not work in these cases, and the ponies did not survive.

Abstract

Poisoning with Senecio jacobaea (ragwort) is a common cause of chronic liver disease in horses in Britain. The major clinical signs are the result of hepatic failure but gastric impaction has recently been associated with the disease. The present paper describes three cases of secondary gastric impaction associated with ragwort poisoning. In each case the impaction was the cause of death or necessitated euthanasia.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2368275/