Companion Animals

Horse Gastric Ulcer Monitoring and Management

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is highly prevalent in performance horses, causing pain and affecting behaviour and performance.

Key Facts

Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of performance horses have gastric ulcers
Ulcers develop within days of fasting or high concentrate feeding
Clinical signs include poor appetite, weight loss, and girthiness
Diagnosis requires gastroscopy
Treatment with omeprazole is effective but recurrence is common without management changes

Welfare Considerations

Gastric ulcers cause chronic pain that affects horses' wellbeing and behaviour. Many horses show subtle signs missed by owners. Management changes including ad libitum forage, reduced exercise on empty stomach, and stress reduction are essential alongside treatment.

What You Can Do

Provide horses with continuous forage access to buffer stomach acid
Learn to recognise subtle signs of gastric discomfort in horses
Consult a vet if your horse shows changes in behaviour, appetite or performance