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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(9); 1498; doi: 10.3390/ani13091498

Changes in Management Lead to Improvement and Healing of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease.

Abstract: Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) is common in horses and poses a serious welfare problem. Several risk factors have been identified and ESGD is routinely treated with omeprazole. Fourteen mares, previously used as embryo recipients and diagnosed with ESGD, were selected. Horses were confined to individual stalls, exercised once daily, and fed ad libitum hay, 1 kg of a low starch compound complementary feed and a mineral supplement. Half of the horses received a compound containing hydrolysed collagen (supplement) and the other half did not (control). At the start of the study, ESGD scores were 3.57 and 3.36 for the supplement and control group, respectively. After 4 weeks, the ESGD grades were significantly reduced in both groups (1.89 and 1.43, respectively, < 0.01), and healing (ESGD < 2) occurred in 7 out of 14 horses. No treatment effect was observed ( = 0.75), and it was concluded that the change in husbandry overshadowed any potential effect of the compound. Severe ESGD can improve, and even heal, with the provision of a diet of ad libitum forage and a small amount of a compound complementary feed, without the use of omeprazole. A predictable daily routine, with a limited number of dedicated caretakers, may have contributed to the improvement of gastric health.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-28 PubMed ID: 37174535PubMed Central: PMC10177505DOI: 10.3390/ani13091498Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates the impact of changes in management on the improvement and healing of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease in horses. The study suggests that severe ESGD can improve and even heal with the adoption of a specific diet and routine, without the use of common medication, omeprazole.

Background of the Study

  • Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) is a common welfare problem in horses.
  • There a several identified risk factors and it’s routinely treated with omeprazole.
  • A group of fourteen mares previously used as embryo recipients and diagnosed with ESGD were selected for the study.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The experiment involved two groups of horses – one receiving a supplement containing hydrolysed collagen and the other acting as the control group without any special nutrition.
  • All horses were confined to individual stalls, exercised once daily, and fed hay, a low-starch compound complementary feed, and a mineral supplement.
  • The groups were compared based on their ESGD scores at the start of the study.

Results and Findings

  • After 4 weeks, there were significant reductions in ESGD grades in both the supplement and control groups.
  • Seven out of fourteen horses showed clear signs of healing and improvement.
  • No treatment effect was noticed, which led to the conclusion that changes in environmental conditions overshadowed any potential effect of the supplement.

Conclusions of the Research

  • The research concluded that handling severe ESGD might not necessarily require the use of omeprazole.
  • By adjusting diet to include ad libitum forage and a small amount of complementary feed, coupled with a predictable daily routine, ESGD could improve and even heal.
  • The contribution of a limited number of dedicated caretakers could play a key role in improving the gastric health of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Kranenburg LC, van der Poel SH, Warmelink TS, van Doorn DA, van den Boom R. (2023). Changes in Management Lead to Improvement and Healing of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease. Animals (Basel), 13(9), 1498. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13091498

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 9
PII: 1498

Researcher Affiliations

Kranenburg, Lieuwke C
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van der Poel, Simone Henriëtte
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Warmelink, Tim Sebastiaan
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Doorn, David Anthonie
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van den Boom, Robin
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Grant Funding

  • n/a / Darling Ingredients Inc., Irving USA, in cooperation with Voermeesters B.V., Lienden, the Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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  2. Irving J, Pineau V, Shultz S, Ter Woort F, Julien F, Lambey S, van Erck-Westergren E. Impact of Low-Starch Dietary Modifications on Faecal Microbiota Composition and Gastric Disease Scores in Performance Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 28;15(13).
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  3. Busechian S, Bindi F, Orvieto S, Zappulla F, Marchesi MC, Nisi I, Rueca F. Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Presence of Gastric Ulcers in Pleasure and Breeding Horses in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 17;14(12).
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