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CHESHIRE EQUINE CLINIC EQUINE VETERINARY SURGEONS

EquineGastricUlcerSyndrome

StuartPearsonBVM&SCertAVP(ESO)MRCVSCheshireEquineClinic

It iswellknownthatourpopulationofracehorses are commonly affected byequine gastric ulceration (EGUS). Thistroublesome condition needs to beaddressed and managed on all raceyards as it is a welfare concern, andcannegativelyaffectperformance.But,ourperformancehorsesalsosuffer,as60% are reported to be affected byEGUS as well as 40% of our generalridinghorses.

SignsofGastricUlcerationSigns vary, and therefore it can be achallengetoknowifyourhorsesuffersfrom EGUS. Things to look out forinclude reduced appetite, intermittentcolic episodes, a poor coat, irritabilitywhentacked-uporduringriddenwork,adropinperformanceorweightloss.Itis also worth pointing out that somehorseswillshowlittleornosignswhenquiteseverelyaffectedwithEGUS,soitcanbetrickytodetectinsomecases.


DiagnosisCheshire Equine Clinic have numerous endoscopes (longfibre-optic tubes), one of which is 3 metres long, andtherefore allowsus to visualise the insideof the stomachand search for any signs of disease. The procedure isroutinely performed with the horse having been starvedovernightandunder lightsedationonly.Gastriculcersaregraded from0 to 4. Anormal stomach lining is graded 0,whileextensivedeepulcerationisgraded4.Whydoulcersoccur?Domesticated horses spend less time eating than wildhoses and therefore less saliva is produced to buffer theacidicstomach. Itisthisacidthatwill leadtoulcerationofthestomachlining.Horses are grazing animals and naturally forage roughpasturethroughouttheday,andassuch,thereshouldbea“raft”of fibrousmaterialconsistently inthestomach.Thisisimportanttohelpprevent“splash”ofacidicgastricfluidfrom the tough bottom portion of the stomach to thesensitivemoreeasilydamagedupperportion.Itisthoughtthatwhenahorseisexercisedwithoutthis“raft”offibrousmaterialwithinthestomachthatthissplashaffectwilloccur.Regularexercisecreatessplashingandmoderndietsandlushgrass/haymeanslessforagebuildupinthestomach.



Grade0stomachlining Grade4stomachlining

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ManagementandTreatmentTreatment with a drug called omeprazole, in a paste, will help lower the acidity level within thestomachallowingtheulcerstoheal.Otherdrugssuchassucralfatecanalsobeused,whichcoatstheulcerative lesion and prevents further attack from the stomach acid. During treatment the horse’sexercise levelmayneed to reduce initially,butoftenahorsecanbekept inworkdependingon theseverityandinitialresponsetotreatment.Treatment of the ulcers will allow them to heal, however this is a disease caused from ourmanagement practices, so we certainly need to change something within the horse’s managementregimetoavoidre-ocurrence.Thismaybeanaturalreductioninexerciseintensityduetotimeofyearandcompetition,oramoredeliberateapproachwithincreasedaccesstothepaddock,additionofcornoilinfeedandinclusionofchoppedforagewitheveryhardfeedthatisgiven.Somehorsesrequirelowdose long-term omeprazole to prevent re-occurrence and I will often give omeprazole to “at-riskhorses”priortoperiodsofincreasedexercise,beforeandduringtravelorotherstressfulevents.It isworthnoting thatweare tryingtoemulate thehorses’naturalenvironmentandwayof“tricklefeeding”asbestwecan.Freeaccesstohayandincreasedtimeinthepaddockisveryimportant.GrassisnaturalandisoftenreferredtoasDr.GreenorDr.Grassinmanygastrointestinaldisturbances.SummaryTreatment of gastric ulceration can be expensive. The test via gastroscopy of the stomach willconclusively“ruleinorruleout”ulcerationandisalwaysrecommendedtogetanaccuratediagnosis.Cheshire Equine Clinic often hold special Gastroscopy Clinic - please contact the office for furtherinformation.