Companion Animal Welfare

Equine Gastroscopy and Ulcer Monitoring

Gastric ulcers are extremely common in horses and require gastroscopy for definitive diagnosis, with management and monitoring being ongoing welfare responsibilities.

Key Facts

Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of performance horses have gastric ulcers
EGUS encompasses squamous and glandular ulcer disease with different treatments
Omeprazole is effective for squamous disease but less effective for glandular disease
Management changes including increased forage access and reduced grain reduce ulcer risk
Follow-up gastroscopy after treatment confirms healing before return to performance

Welfare Considerations

Gastric ulcers cause chronic pain that affects behaviour, performance and quality of life in horses. The high prevalence in performance horses reflects management and training systems that conflict with equine digestive physiology. Management changes alongside treatment provide the best long-term welfare outcome.

What You Can Do

Ensure horses have continuous access to forage to buffer gastric acid
Ask your vet about gastroscopy if your horse shows signs of ulcer-related behaviour
Advocate for equine welfare education for all riding instructors and competition coaches