Treatment and prevention of equine gastric ulcer syndrome

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is common in performance horses and in foals [1-12]. Diagnosis of EGUS is based on history, clinical signs, endoscopic examination, and response to treatment. All ages and breeds of horses are susceptible to EGUS, and current therapeutic strategies focus on blocking gastric acid secretion and raising stomach pH. To date, there is only one US Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacologic agent for the treatment of EGUS, GastroGard (Merial Limited, Duluth, GA). A more comprehensive approach to EGUS includes determining and correcting the underlying cause, environmental management, dietary manipulation, and pharmacologic intervention. This article focuses on a comprehensive approach to the treatment of EGUS and briefly covers basic anatomy and physiology of the equine stomach, the multiple etiologies and risk factors for EGUS, and preventative management strategies.