Treatment and prevention of equine gastric ulcer syndrome

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2003 Dec;19(3):575-97. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2003.08.012.

Abstract

EGUS is a common problem in horses and foals. Acids are the important causative factors and current therapy targets the suppression of gastric HCl and creation of a permissive environment for ulcer healing. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, gastroscopy, and response to treatment. Of the products available, only GastroGard (FDA approved) and ranitidine have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of EGUS. Ranitidine is often associated with treatment failure as a result of incorrect dosing and lack of owner compliance, because of the three times daily dosing required. Also, EGUS occurs in critically ill neonatal foals, but the pathogenesis may be different than in adult horses and acid-suppressive therapy may not be as effective.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Gastric Acid / metabolism
  • Gastric Acidity Determination
  • Helicobacter Infections / complications
  • Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy
  • Helicobacter Infections / prevention & control
  • Helicobacter Infections / veterinary
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Horses
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Risk Factors
  • Stomach Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Stomach Ulcer / etiology
  • Stomach Ulcer / prevention & control
  • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents