Effect of pectin, lecithin, and antacid feed supplements (Egusin®) on gastric ulcer scores, gastric fluid pH and blood gas values in horses.
Authors: Woodward Michelle C, Huff Nan K, Garza Frank, Keowen Michael L, Kearney Michael T, Andrews Frank M
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Egusin® Supplements and Gastric Ulcer Management in Stalled Horses Gastric ulceration remains a significant welfare concern in stalled horses, particularly those subjected to intermittent feeding schedules. This 2014 crossover study evaluated whether two commercial pectin and lecithin-based supplements (Egusin 250® and Egusin SLH®) could reduce ulcer severity in nine Thoroughbreds over 35 days, using a feed-deprivation protocol to simulate stress-induced ulceration. Whilst neither supplement prevented initial ulcer development or provided advantage over control during the first 21 days of treatment, both Egusin products demonstrated clinically meaningful benefits by day 35: ulcer scores remained elevated in untreated controls but significantly decreased in supplemented horses, suggesting these formulations require prolonged administration to achieve therapeutic effect. Interestingly, gastric pH remained low and variable regardless of treatment, implying the supplements' protective mechanism may operate through buffering or mucosal integrity pathways rather than acid suppression alone; minor alterations in blood CO2 values were observed in treated horses but remained within normal ranges. For practitioners managing stalled horses—particularly competition animals on restricted feeding schedules—these findings suggest Egusin® products warrant consideration as longer-term adjunctive support, though they should not be viewed as a rapid fix and remain most effective when combined with improved feeding management that minimises prolonged gastric emptying periods.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Egusin supplements containing pectin, lecithin, and antacid appear effective at reducing gastric ulcer severity in stall-confined horses, particularly after 35 days of supplementation during feed stress conditions
- •Simple gastric ulcer reduction observed in controls after 21 days suggests natural improvement occurs, but supplemented horses show faster recovery post-stress
- •Consider Egusin supplementation for stall-confined horses or those undergoing periods of restricted feeding, as significant benefits emerge by day 35
Key Findings
- •By day 35, both Egusin E-250 and E-SLH treated horses showed significantly decreased gastric ulcer scores compared to untreated controls following feed-deprivation stress
- •Feed-deprivation significantly increased gastric ulcer severity in all groups between day 21 and day 28, but Egusin-treated horses recovered by day 35 while controls remained high
- •Gastric juice pH remained low and variable across all treatment groups with no significant treatment effect observed
- •Egusin-treated horses showed increased blood pCO2 two hours post-feeding and increased TCO2 at 24 hours, suggesting altered acid-base status