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

Changes in Management Lead to Improvement and Healing of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease
Animals (Basel). 2023 Apr 28;13(9):1498.
Authors
Lieuwke C Kranenburg 1 , Simone Henriëtte van der Poel 1 , Tim Sebastiaan Warmelink 1 , David Anthonie van Doorn 1 , Robin van den Boom 1
Affiliation

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.

PMID: 37174535
DOI: 10.3390/ani13091498

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, p < 0.01), and healing (ESGD < 2) occurred in 7 out of 14 horses. No treatment effect was observed (p = 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. Keywords: equine; equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS); equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD); gastric ulcers; horse; stomach; ulcers.