Horse Gastric Ulcer Monitoring and Prevention

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is extremely common in performance horses, requiring dietary and management interventions to prevent and treat.

Key Facts

EGUS affects approximately 60-90% of performance horses and 50-60% of leisure horses in studies
The horse's stomach continuously produces acid - without forage to buffer it, ulcers develop rapidly
Fasting for more than 6 hours significantly increases ulcer risk
Clinical signs include poor body condition, behavioral changes, and reluctance to work
Omeprazole (GastroGard) is the gold standard treatment; alginates provide adjunctive support
Management changes are as important as medication - fasting prevention and ad lib hay access

Welfare Considerations

Gastric ulcers cause chronic abdominal pain affecting horses' quality of life, behavioral responses to handling and work, and body condition. The stoic nature of horses means many painful ulcer cases go unrecognized. The high prevalence in performance horses reflects management practices - intermittent feeding, high-intensity exercise, and stress - that conflict with equine digestive physiology. Prevention through ad lib forage access and reduced stress is both more welfare-effective and more sustainable than treatment alone.

What You Can Do

Provide ad lib hay access or increase feeding frequency to minimum 3 meals daily
Never withhold hay for more than 6 hours, including overnight or during transport
Discuss omeprazole treatment with your vet if EGUS is suspected based on signs
Feed a portion of hay before exercise to buffer gastric acid during work
Reduce NSAID use - they damage the glandular mucosa and increase ulcer risk
Address stressors including competition schedules, social isolation, and management changes