The prevalence of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) has been reported to be as high as 90% amongst performance horses. EGUS is a blanket term that refers to ulcers occurring in two distinct regions of the stomach: Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) and Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD). Both conditions can be caused or exacerbated by poor diet, management practices, and exercise routines.

Causes

Horses are trickle feeders, meaning that in the wild, they would spend approximately 16 hours per day grazing, which produces a continual supply of saliva that acts as a buffer for stomach acid. However, modern management practices have led to a reduction in this behaviour, replacing it with increased stabling time, workload, consumption of high-starch concentrates, travel time, and stress levels. Additionally, there is a decrease in turnout time, forage intake, and access to grazing, all of which predispose horses to EGUS.

Typical clinical signs of horses suffering from EGUS include poor performance, weight loss, girthy behaviour, dull coat, temperament changes, recurrent colic, picky appetite, and loose droppings. However, some horses may exhibit different or no clinical signs.

Diagnosis

If EGUS is suspected, the only definitive method of diagnosis is through gastroscopy performed by a veterinarian. During this procedure, ulcers can be identified and graded based on their severity on a scale of 0 (no ulceration) to 4 (extensive ulceration). Treatment usually involves the prescription of an Omeprazole-based product to heal the ulcers. Repeat scoping will be necessary to assess the effectiveness of the treatment.

Prevention

Preventing the recurrence of ulcers after treatment is vital. Effective prevention strategies include:

• Increasing Forage Intake: Provide ad-lib forage where possible, or at least no less than 1.5% of the horse's body weight daily.
• Maximizing Turnout Time: Allow horses more time outside and access to grazing.
• Stress Reduction: Minimize stressors in the horse's environment.
• Feeding Management: Split hard feeds into 3-5 smaller meals throughout the day, add chopped fibre such as chaff to every meal, and feed a small, chopped fibre meal 10 minutes before exercise to reduce gastric acid splashing.
• Diet Composition: Provide concentrates high in oil or super fibres rather than cereal to meet energy requirements.
• Water Access: Always provide access to fresh water.

Feeding Recommendations

When designing a diet for horses prone to EGUS, it's essential to feed a low-starch, high-fibre diet supplemented with oil and super fibres to meet energy requirements. The Bluegrass Extra Pro-Range (Re-Leve, Re-Solve & Re-Lite) have been specifically designed for this purpose, containing live yeast cultures and marine-derived calcium to help prevent EGUS. Other suitable products include Stamm 30, Turmash, Better Beet, Flax-Plus, and Equi-Jewel. Remember, prevention is always better than a cure.

Understanding the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and management of EGUS is crucial for maintaining the health and well-being of horses. By implementing preventive measures and appropriate feeding strategies, horse owners can minimize the risk of EGUS and ensure the overall health of their equine companions.