What is Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome?

Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS) can affect any type of horse or foal in any environment, at any time of year. If your horse is displaying any unusual signs such as poor appetite, body condition and performance, changes in attitude or acute, recurrent colic it’s important to speak to your vet immediately, advises Zoetis vet Dr Wendy Talbot.

What is Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome?

EGUS (acronym for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome) is a serious and common condition, with approximately 93% of racehorses, 65% of performance horses, 54% of leisure horses and 50% of foals shown to be affected. The condition is associated with injury to the inner lining of the oesophagus, stomach and upper part of the intestine.

It is not breed-specific, however, research suggests it is more likely to occur in racehorses. This raises the question of whether or not lifestyle and training contribute to the chances of the condition occurring in horses.

How do horses get EGUS?

Horses produce a steady flow of stomach acid to help digestion. As a protective mechanism, their naturally acidic stomach contents are buffered by alkaline saliva which is produced in response to regular eating and by the food itself. Our domestication of horses, particularly stabling and restriction of grazing, has reduced the time our horses spend eating, resulting in prolonged periods when the stomach is empty, causing reduced saliva production. In addition, feeding grain (rather than fibre) can produce types of acid which contribute to the already acidic environment of the stomach.

What are the signs of EGUS?

The usual signs of EGUS may include:

• poor appetite
• poor body condition
• poor performance
• changes in attitude
• acute and recurrent colic

In adult horses, clinical signs may appear or progress as training intensity, speed and workload increase. However, in some horses, the signs may be vague. In foals, the signs may be very subtle and progress rapidly, so it is important to contact your vet immediately if you have any concerns.

What are the risk factors?

There are many risk factors that may cause your horse or foal to suffer from gastric ulcers. These include (but are not limited to):

• stress
• intense exercise
• a high-grain diet
• intermittent feeding
• poor management
• other illnesses

Diagnosis of EGUS

The only accurate way to definitively diagnose or monitor EGUS is by gastroscopy, which involves a vet examining your horse’s oesophagus, stomach and upper part of the intestine using a gastroscope.

Wendy Talbot, vet at Zoetis, said:

EGUS is a serious condition but once diagnosed it can usually be treated very effectively with management changes and orally administered therapy to help the ulcers heal. If you think your horse could be suffering from EGUS you must contact your vet immediately.”

You can learn more about EGUS in our article here.