04/06/2025
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Could your horse be suffering from Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)? If your horse suffers from weight loss, lack of appetite, poor performance, behaviour changes, or repeated bouts of mild colic, the answer could be yes.
EGUS is a painful condition that results in erosions and ulcerations in the stomach lining of the horse.
Gastric ulcers can be common in horses of varying breeds, ages and types, and can affect ~1 in 3 equines, with foals being also very susceptible.
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Clinical signs of gastric ulcers in horses can be vague and non-specific, whilst some horses do not show any signs at all. Subtle signs may include:
โข Poor performance or behavioural changes e.g. difficult to ride, bucking, refusing to jump, back pain
โข Poor appetite or โpicky eatingโ
โข Poor body condition or mild weight loss, including a dull coat
โข Mild or recurrent colic, e.g. teeth grinding, turning the upper lip up, rolling
โข Girthy, doesnโt like being brushed or touched over their abdomen
โข Crib biting
โข Clinical signs in foals tend to be vague e.g. teeth grinding, excess salivation, long period of lying down, infrequent feeding and diarrhoea
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The only way to diagnose gastric ulcers is via gastroscopy. This involves passing a camera (gastroscope) into the stomach to visualise the lining, allowing us to assess and grade the severity of the ulcers, if they are present.
Treatment involves both medication and most importantly, long term management changes. Re-evaluation with gastroscopy is recommended before treatment is discontinued to be sure that the ulcers are completed healed.
๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ:๐พ
Prevention is always better than cure. The following can help to reduce the likelihood of ulcers occurring:
โข Allow access to ad-lib high quality forage (1.5-2% of bodyweight of dry forage)
โข Maximise pasture turnout on good quality grazing, ensuring social groups remain stable to minimise stress
โข When stabled, provide multiple forage sources to improve eating consistency and allow foraging activity
โข Straw feeding should not be the only forage source
โข Free access to fresh water 24 hours a day
โข Split concentrate feeds into 3 small meals per day; avoid cereal grains where possible, alfalfa with added oil is a good alternative
โข Feed forage or fibre such as hay or chaff 20-30 minutes prior to exercise
โข Reduce stress wherever possible; be aware of the triggers for your horse and try to minimise these occurring
If you think your horse may need investigating for ulcers, or if you would like more information about EGUS, please contact us to talk with one of our vets.๐ฉบ
Photo Credit: WBS Vet Clin Equine 19 (2003) 575-597
