Síndrome de úlcera gástrica equina en caballos deportivos: implicaciones para el bienestar y la producción equina en América Latina

Nathalia  Santos-Bajaña; Doménica  Bollorino-Montoya; Ángel  Valle-Garay; Iván  González-Puetate

doi:10.59169/pentaciencias.v7i5.1658

Authors

Nathalia Santos-Bajaña Universidad de Guayaquil https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5646-8707
Doménica Bollorino-Montoya Universidad de Guayaquil https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6270-0592
Ángel Valle-Garay Universidad Agraria del Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1985-5263
Iván González-Puetate Universidad de Guayaquil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9930-0617

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59169/pentaciencias.v7i5.1658

Keywords:

Equine welfare; Sport horses; Colic; Acute abdomen syndrome

Abstract

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is one of the most common digestive disorders in sport horses, affecting up to 90% of animals subjected to intensive training or competition. Its origin is associated with an imbalance between aggressive factors (hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and stress) and the protective mechanisms of the gastric mucosa. This study consisted of a descriptive and analytical literature review based on scientific articles published between 2019 and 2025 in databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, selecting research focused on the pathophysiology, prevalence, and prevention of EGUS. The results show that the main risk factors include diets high in concentrates and low in forage, prolonged fasting, repeated use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, confinement, and stress associated with management and transport. Likewise, it was determined that the most effective prevention requires a combination of balanced nutrition with high-quality forage, meal fractionation, stable routines, rest periods, and periodic endoscopic monitoring. In conclusion, EGUS is a multifactorial problem that compromises the health, performance, and welfare of sport horses; therefore, its control requires integrated strategies supported by scientific evidence and oriented toward the ethical and sustainable management of equestrian sports.

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