Gastroscopy

Gastroscopy is the gold-standard way to diagnose equine gastric ulcer syndrome. A flexible video endoscope lets us see the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine, so we can confirm ulcers, grade their severity, and target treatment rather than guessing.

How it works: your horse is sedated, and a thin scope is passed through the nostril to the stomach. To get a clear view, the stomach must be empty. Most horses are fasted from feed for 12 to 16 hours, with water removed a short time before the procedure, although exact timing can vary by weather and case. We will give you written prep instructions when we book your appointment.

After the scope: you will see photos or video of any lesions, and we will provide a treatment and management plan. Omeprazole is the primary medical therapy, paired with nutrition and management changes to reduce acid exposure, like more forage access and appropriate feed choices. Follow-up scopes are sometimes advised to document healing in performance horses or severe cases.