Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS) occurs when the inner lining of a horse's stomach becomes damaged or ulcerated. Symptoms vary from no obvious signs to severe changes in body condition and poor performance. EGUS may even be life-threatening in foals1
There are two distinct types of EGUS, Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) - classified based on their location in the stomach – which can occur alone or as a mixed condition2:
Both types of EGUS can affect any horse or foal. Research reveals it can affect up to2,3:
50% of foals develop gastric ulcers in
the first few months of
life.
93% of racehorses
in training2
65% of
performance horses
54% of
leisure
horses
There are many risk factors that can lead to an imbalance in your horse's stomach lining.
Unlike humans, who mostly produce stomach acid after eating, horses produce an almost constant flow. This acid is essential to digest food, but it can also cause damage when it comes into contact with the stomach lining.
Horses are equipped to protect themselves against damage via bicarbonate in their saliva and stomach mucus3 and the normal blood supply to the stomach4. However, factors such as intense exercise, stress, a high-grain diet or a reduction in forage feeding can all increase the amount of acid that reaches the lining2,3. In addition, intermittent feeding, transportation and other illnesses can also lead to issues.
Research suggests that the following may
contribute
to a type of ulceration:
Any or all of the following symptoms may be seen2:
Foals may be dull and depressed, and may adopt odd positions or lay on their back to try and relieve the pain of colic1. Other symptoms include:
Foals may also suffer from 'silent ulcers', meaning they may not outwardly present symptoms until the disease becomes serious 1.
Because of the wide variety of symptoms a horse may present, it is not possible to diagnose EGUS based on clinical signs alone.
The only effective way of diagnosing EGUS is via a Gastrocopy2, a procedure which involves inserting a camera into the stomach using an endoscope. This procedure is usually well-tolerated and takes less than half an hour to complete including time for the horse to be fully awake from its sedation.
Courtesy of Richard Hepburn, BVSc MS(Hons) CertEM(IntMed) DipACVIM MRCVS.
It is possible to relieve pain, eliminate clinical signs and promote healing using a combination of management changes and medication. Your vet should also aim to prevent recurrence1,2.
It is prudent to identify known risk factors and take steps to reduce them. This can include:
In addition to management changes, most horses suffering from established EGUS will also require medication. This may be a short one-off course or a longer medication plan to safeguard against recurrences during stressful periods 2