What is EGUS and how are ulcers treated in horses?

If you havent heard of EGUS before it stands for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. This is what other horse owners refer to when they say that their horse has ulcers. It can be pretty nasty and very uncomfortable for the horse. Depending on the horse or pony it can cause changes in temperament poor performance reduced body condition or trouble maintaining weight changes in eating habits inappetence and sometimes it may even cause colic. Alternatively there are horses that dont show any clinical signs at all. 

How well do you know the anatomy of the horses stomach? 
The stomach is probably not as big as youd expect for such a large animal. Its split into two parts by a ridge of tissue. First theres a squamous or nonglandular part its more alkaline here the pH is higher because theres no stomach acid. Then below the ridge theres the glandular part where the pH is lower because of the acid produced.
The glandular part has defence mechanisms such as the production of mucous and bicarbonate. This helps to protect the mucosa the delicate inner lining surface from the detrimental effects of stomach acid.
So what exactly happens in EGUS?
When the nonglandular part is exposed to acid it creates sores erosions or even ulcers in the surface of this part of the stomach because its not adapted for an acidic environment. That said we also see horses who have ulceration of the glandular part of the stomach this happens when the defence mechanisms fail to protect the underlying mucosa. In some horses the ulcer lesions are shallow or superficial but in others they may well be very deep.
What are the risk factors for developing EGUS?
EGUS is more common in performance horses especially racehorses but there are many risk factors at play. The performance lifestyle often involves long periods of time stabled so horses arent constantly grazing and producing saliva. When swallowed saliva helps to protect the stomach it contains bicarbonate which acts as a buffer against stomach acid. 
A lot of time stabled travel and changes in environment all generate stress which is associated with an increase in stomach acidity. High performance work can also cause splashing of the stomach acid from the glandular part onto the nonglandular part of the stomach predisposing the horse to ulceration. However EGUS is not just a disease of performance horses there are many affected horses that are