Gastroscopy
What is Equine Gastric Ulcer syndrome?
Equine gastric ulcer syndrome includes Equine Squamous Gastric Disease and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease.
Although these conditions can have distinct underlying causes, they can occur concurrently in the same horse.
Signs your horse may have EGUS?
- Poor appetite, weight loss or poor body condition.
- Behavioural changes under saddle and on the ground.
- Aggression or irritability around food.
- Poor performance or reluctance to work.
- Colic.
Diagnosis of EGUS
The gold standard for diagnosis of EGUS is gastroscopy. This involves passing a fibre optic camera via the nasal passage into the stomach of the horse.
Gastroscopy enables us to:
- Confirm the presence of ulcers.
- Differentiate between ESGD and EGGD.
- Assess the severity of disease through ulcer grading.
- Guide appropriate treatment plans.
- Assess response to treatment.
Treatment of EGUS
Treatment depends on the type and severity of ulcers present and typically involves a combination of medication and management changes. We may also recommend some feed changes to support treatment.
