Gastric ulcers occur commonly yet present a number of treatment challenges requiring pharmaceutical intervention and intensive lifestyle modifications

Veterinarians have long recognized gastric (stomach) ulcers in horses. These ulcers—painful erosions of the tissue lining the gastrointestinal tract—can occur anywhere from the lower esophagus, throughout the stomach, and into the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum. In 1999 veterinarians adopted the term “equine gastric ulcer syndrome” (EGUS). This terminology recognized two distinct forms of ulcers: those in the squamous or nonglandular part of the stomach (equine squamous gastric disease or ESGD) and those occurring in the glandular region (equine glandular gastric disease or EGGD).

Download this fact sheet to learn more about equine gastric ulcer syndrome.