The effect of feeding a commercial feedstuff on gastric squamous gastric disease (ESGD) healing and prevention of recurrence.
Authors: Menzies-Gow N J, Shurlock T
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Commercial Fibre Supplementation in ESGD Management Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) represents a significant welfare and performance concern, with feedstuff selection playing an increasingly recognised role in management strategy; this study evaluated whether a commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fibre mix could enhance healing and prevent recurrence when combined with standard omeprazole therapy. Ten horses with naturally occurring ESGD (median grade 2) received omeprazole alone or omeprazole plus 1 kg daily of the test feedstuff for one month, followed by gastroscopy; in horses showing complete healing, omeprazole was withdrawn and all animals received the commercial feed for a further month before final endoscopic assessment. All ten horses achieved complete gastric healing within the initial treatment phase, but during the prevention period, ESGD recurred in 60% of horses that had not previously received the supplementary feed compared to 0% of those that had (p=0.04), with recurrent lesions grading 3/4 in severity. The inclusion of pectin-rich beet pulp and the acid-buffering properties of alfalfa within a structured feeding protocol appears effective at mitigating recurrence risk following omeprazole cessation, offering practitioners a tangible adjunctive tool beyond pharmaceutical intervention alone. This finding warrants consideration during discharge planning for ESGD cases, particularly given the chronic relapsing nature of the condition in many horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •While omeprazole alone effectively heals ESGD, feeding a commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fibre mix after healing is completed substantially reduces recurrence risk (60% versus 0%)
- •Consider recommending this type of commercial feedstuff to clients with horses recovering from ESGD, particularly during the critical first month after stopping omeprazole therapy
- •The combination of alfalfa's buffering capacity and pectin's mucus-like properties may explain the protective effect, supporting the rationale for continued supplementation post-treatment
Key Findings
- •All 10 horses with naturally occurring ESGD achieved complete healing (grade 0/4) after one month of omeprazole treatment regardless of additional feed supplementation
- •ESGD recurred in 60% (3/5) of horses that did not receive the commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fibre mix during the prevention phase, compared to 0% (0/5) in horses that received it (p=0.04)
- •The commercial feed containing beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fibre significantly reduced ESGD recurrence when fed during both healing and prevention phases