If you've ever mentioned that your horse is feeling a little off colour.  Chances are that someone will suggest that your horse might have EGUS. So what exactly is EGUS?

EGUS stands for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome.

EGUS is brought about by overproduction of gastric acid that can damage the protective lining found in the stomach.

A horse’s stomach can produce acid nonstop all throughout the day and is capable of producing up to sixteen gallons of acid every day.

In a natural setting where horses graze, this acid is needed to digest whatever the horse is eating, and the roughage, together with saliva produced from constant chewing, that the horse consumes help with acid neutralization.

However with diets high in grain (starch or sugar), these acid levels increase and cause gastric ulcers. In addition, stress and gastric splashing are major causes of EGUS.

Stop EGUS Before It Gets Worse

If you notice different changes in your horses such as changes in their eating and drinking habits, changes in their disposition, poor performance, or recurrent colic, then you should look at ways to identify gastric ulcers.

Equine gastric ulcers are easier to treat the earlier they are identified.

What is EGUS treatment?

If you suspect that your horse does have EGUS, then you can treat them with medication and appropriate lifestyle modification.

The most common EGUS treatment is a course of Omeprazole. Omeprazole works by inhibiting the horse's acid production which gives the ulcers a chance to heal.

Omeprazole can be purchased online without a prescription here.

However care must be taken to address the underlying issue - which can usually be traced back to diet & lifestyle.

EGUS is a complicated issue. To get a deeper understanding of EGUS, the causes and solutions - please visit this article.