A study led by Australian veterinarians has cast doubt on the usefulness of a blood test for detecting pain caused by gastric ulcers in horses. The findings show that the test falls short of what is needed to reliably identify when a horse is suffering from this condition.
Gastric ulcers are a common problem in horses, but recognizing the pain they cause is notoriously difficult because horses often show only subtle signs. The researchers say the results expose a broader challenge in equine medicine and highlight an urgent need for better tools to detect when horses are in discomfort.
Without a dependable blood-based marker, veterinarians may have to rely on more invasive or indirect methods. The study's authors emphasize that improving pain detection is critical for timely treatment and animal welfare.