Effect of a blend of magnesium oxide on Equine Squamous Gastric Disease in young trotter horses under training.

Abstract

Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD), as part of the equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), are common in racing horses. The use of buffering feed supplements to treat and/or prevent gastric ulcers is an option to control this condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 30-day supplementation with a blend of magnesium oxide (MgO) on ESGD scores in trotters under training. Forty-two young trotters were submitted to a gastroscopic evaluation to assess their ESGD score and were randomly assigned in a group supplemented with MgO or in a control group. After 30 days, a second evaluation by gastroscopy was performed. The effect of the MgO supplementation was assessed by comparing the evolution of the ESGD score in supplemented and control groups between day 0 and day 30. The results confirm the high prevalence of EGUS in young Trotters. The supplementation significantly decreased the ESGD scoring in the supplemented group whereas the control group remain unchanged. The oral MgO supplementation was efficient to control ESGD in the population studied.