Companion Animals

Horse Gastric Ulcer Monitoring and Treatment

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is extremely common in performance horses and causes significant pain that often goes undetected.

Key Facts

EGUS affects up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of sport horses
Squamous and glandular ulcers have different causes and require different treatment
Omeprazole is effective for squamous but less so for glandular disease
Forage availability, stress and NSAID use are primary risk factors
Many horses show subtle signs like reluctance to work or girthiness

Welfare Considerations

Gastric ulcers cause ongoing pain that subtly but significantly affects horse welfare and behaviour. Many horses live with undiagnosed ulcers for extended periods. Scoping at-risk horses, adjusting management to increase forage access and reduce stress, and treating confirmed disease are important welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Maximise forage availability to reduce ulcer risk
Consider scoping if your horse shows behavioural changes
Review NSAID use and feeding management with your vet