Gastric ulcers in horses refer to erosions or lesions in the lining of the stomach, often resulting from an imbalance between protective and harmful factors affecting the gastric mucosa. These ulcers are a common condition in equine populations, affecting both performance and non-performance horses. The condition is typically categorized into Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), with further classification into squamous and glandular ulcers based on their location within the stomach. Factors such as diet, stress, and exercise intensity can influence the development of gastric ulcers. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the prevalence, pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for gastric ulcers in horses.
Sangiah S, MacAllister CC, Amouzadeh HR.The basal gastric pH and free acid contents from five young adult healthy horses were determined at one hour intervals for eight hours. The basal gastric pH and free acid contents varied from 1.63 +/- 0.06 to 1.97 +/- 0.11 and 26.42 +/- 4.14 to 17.92 +/- 5.28 mmol litre-1, respectively. Misoprostol, a methylester analogue of prostaglandin (5 micrograms kg-1, orally) produced a time-dependent increase in the basal gastric pH to above 3.5 (P less than 0.05) at three, four and five hours after administration with a concomitant reduction of 80 to 90 per cent in the basal gastric free acid contents...
Cohen ML, Ming RH, Gogel HK, Davis M, Pitcher JL.Phenylbutazone (PBZ) is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) that is not commonly prescribed due to the high incidence of serious adverse reactions. However, it is still used extensively in equine medicine, and is readily available to those employed in the care and management of horses. Such persons may take the drug indiscriminately, without medical supervision. We present a 33-year-old male race horse track worker who took phenylbutazone horse pills for a chronic toothache and subsequently suffered a major hemorrhage from a gastric ulcer. Human use of phenylbutazone horse pills shoul...
Hammond CJ, Mason DK, Watkins KL.Routine post mortem examination of 195 Thoroughbreds in Hong Kong revealed that 66 per cent suffered from gastric ulceration. Racehorses killed straight out of training suffered a significantly greater incidence of ulceration (80 per cent) than those having been retired for a month or more (52 per cent). The macroscopic findings post mortem enabled a classification of equine gastric ulceration to be suggested (Types 1, 2, 3), according to severity. Severe lesions (Types 2 and 3) were present in 45 per cent of horses put down from training and 5 per cent of retired horses. This difference was s...
Palmer JE.Few foals escape gastrointestinal disease during the first weeks of life. Diarrhea is an extremely common problem; fortunately, however, it is usually mild and self-limiting. When it is not, the underlying cause is often an infectious agent, such as rotavirus or Salmonella spp. Our understanding of many of the infectious agents causing neonatal diarrhea is far from complete. Gastric and duodenal ulcers are a less common disease of neonatal foals. There has been an apparent increase in the incidence of ulcer disease in foals during the past few years. The most effective way of decreasing seriou...
Traub-Dagartz J, Bayly W, Riggs M, Thomas N, Pankowski R.An Arabian foal with a congenital heart disease died due to hemorrhage secondary to a large gastric ulcer. Previously, death of foals with gastric ulcers has been due to diffuse peritonitis resulting from gastric ulcer perforation. The foal in this case report died due to hemorrhage secondary to a large gastric ulcer.
Acland HM, Gunson DE, Gillette DM.Seven foals aged 18 days to 3 1/2 months had either single or multiple full-circumference segments or long antimesenteric bands of necrotizing duodenitis, sharply delineated from adjacent viable duodenum. Perforation of the necrotic wall had occurred in all foals, leading to acute fibrinous peritonitis. On the mucosal surface severe diffuse, acute inflammation and ulceration involved the anterior half of the duodenum. Two further foals, aged 28 and 30 days, had lesions that are believed to be a chronic form of this disease. Both foals had a thickened duodenal wall, with large areas of mucosa r...
van den Wollenberg L, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.Since it has become possible to make an ante-mortem diagnosis of gastric ulceration in horses by means of endoscopy, interest in the presence and treatment of this syndrome has increased. Several endoscopic surveys have indicated that the frequency of gastric ulceration in Thoroughbreds in training is fairly high. Less is known about other breeds and horses that are kept under different (training) conditions. The equine stomach is covered by two different kinds of mucous membranes: squamous and glandular. These two areas differ from one another in the incidence and aetiology of ulceration and,...
Hellings IR, Larsen S.Gastric ulceration is highly prevalent in horses, and there is a large commercial market for feed-additives and non-licenced products that claim effect for prevention and treatment of gastric ulceration. ImproWin® has been used as a feed additive in horses with anecdotal evidence that it may have some positive effects on gastric ulceration.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ImproWin® treatment on spontaneously occurring gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa in Standardbred and Coldblooded trotting racehorses. The study was performed as a randomised, double-blinded, single...
Williams Louie E, Nieto J, Wensley F, Morgan JM, Finno CJ, Berryhill EH.Omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol supplementation reduces gastric ulcer formation in humans and rodents; however, efficacy of prevention in horses is unknown. Equine Omega Complete (EOC) is an oral supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol. Objective: Determine if EOC supplementation prevents gastric ulcers and increases serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in healthy horses. Methods: Nine thoroughbred geldings; 5-13 years old. Methods: Prospective randomized block design, repeated in crossover model. Horses were administered EOC, omeprazole, or water PO for 28 ...
Luthersson N, Þorgrímsdóttir ÚÝ, Harris PA, Parkin T, Hopster-Iversen C, Bennet ED.A high prevalence of both squamous (ESGD) and glandular (EGGD) ulcers was previously found in, mainly young, Icelandic horses coming into training for the first time. This study evaluated risk factors for gastric ulcers in Icelandic riding horses at various ages and stages of training. The horses (n = 211) were gastroscoped from 21 equine establishments across Iceland. A variety of morphometric, clinical, behavioural and management factors were evaluated as potential risk factors for gastroscopically significant (grade ≥ 2/4: found in 27% of horses) or gastroscopically severe (grade 3 or 4/4...
Leleu C, Couroucé A.Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD), as part of the equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), are common in racing horses. The use of buffering feed supplements to treat and/or prevent gastric ulcers is an option to control this condition. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 30-day supplementation with a blend of magnesium oxide (MgO) on ESGD scores in trotters under training. Methods: Forty-two young trotters were submitted to a gastroscopic evaluation to assess their ESGD score and were randomly assigned in a group supplemented with MgO or in a control group. ...
Muñoz-Prieto A, Llamas-Amor E, Contreras-Aguilar MD, Ayala I, Martín Cuervo M, Cerón JJ, Hansen S.Ammonia (NH3) and bicarbonate (HCO3) have been related to gastric ulcers in humans. Ammonia is considered a possible cause of gastric ulcers, whereas bicarbonate has a protective function. The presence of ulcers in the stomach of horses is defined as Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), which is a frequent disease in this species, and it has been associated with changes in saliva composition, such as in analytes related to inflammation, immune system and oxidative stress. The objectives of this study were (1) to perform an analytical validation of two automated spectrophotometric assays, one ...
Busechian S, Orvieto S, Nocera I, Rueca F.Equine Gastric Ulcers Syndrome (EGUS) is a worldwide disease present in equids of different breeds, activity levels, and age groups. It is divided into two different illnesses: Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) affecting the squamous mucosa and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) affecting the glandular mucosa. The historical horserace is a traditional competition that is common in Italy. They can be divided into two different types: speed races and jousting tournaments. Anglo-Arabians and Thoroughbreds are used for the two competitions with training and management systems similar to ...
