Risk factors associated with equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) in 201 horses in Denmark.
Authors: Luthersson N, Nielsen K Hou, Harris P, Parkin T D H
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Risk Factors for Equine Gastric Ulceration in Danish Horses Whilst EGUS prevalence in racehorses reaches 93%, comparable data for European leisure and sport horses remain limited, prompting Luthersson and colleagues to examine 201 Danish horses across 23 stables during winter housing. Using endoscopic grading and multivariable logistic regression analysis, the researchers identified that over half the population (53%) had clinically significant ulceration (≥grade 2), with nearly half displaying nonglandular involvement specifically. Three readily modifiable management factors emerged as significant risk factors: straw as the sole forage source, starch intake exceeding 2 g/kg bodyweight daily or 1 g/kg per meal, and absence of water access in turnout paddocks; additionally, gaps exceeding 6 hours between forage feeds increased nonglandular ulcer risk. These findings are particularly relevant for farriers, nutritionists and yard managers, as they demonstrate that practical dietary and environmental adjustments—increasing forage variety, reducing concentrated feed portions, ensuring continuous water availability and frequent forage provision—offer genuine scope to reduce ulceration burden in non-racing populations, whilst the divergent risk profiles for glandular versus nonglandular lesions suggest these warrant distinct preventative approaches.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Provide mixed forage sources beyond straw alone; straw-only diets substantially increase gastric ulcer risk in non-racing horses
- •Limit starch intake to ≤1 g/kg body weight per meal and ≤2 g/kg daily, and ensure water is available in all turnout areas to reduce ulceration risk
- •Increase forage feeding frequency to intervals ≤6 hours, particularly for horses at risk of nonglandular ulceration in the stomach
Key Findings
- •53% (107/201) of non-racing Danish horses had clinically significant EGUS (grade ≥2), with 47% having nonglandular ulcers
- •Straw as the only forage available significantly increased risk of both EGUS ≥2 and nonglandular ulcers
- •Starch intake exceeding 2 g/kg body weight daily or >1 g/kg per meal significantly increased EGUS ≥2 risk
- •Absence of water in turnout paddocks and feeding intervals >6 hours significantly increased nonglandular ulcer risk