Changes

===Diet===

===Diet===

Gastric ulceration may be induced by alternately feeding and fasting horses (Murray 1994).(Vatistas 2 1999)

'''Feed deprivation''' encourages gastric ulceration in two ways: (1) it removes the buffering capacity of protein leading to a reduced gastric pH (Murray and Schusser 1993) (2) it empties the stomach and exposes the squamous mucosa to the more mobile gastric juice.(Sandin 2000)  It is predictable, therefore, that an alternating feed-fast protocol produces a consistent model of ulcer induction in the equine squamous mucosa (36, 37, 66 in Sanchez).

Feed deprivation generally results in increased stomach acidity (Murray and Schusser 1993), since the absence of protein reduces buffering capacity. Moreover, gastric juice is more readily transported in an empty stomach and, as a consequence, flushed over the vulnerable squamous mucosa resulting in gastric ulceration (Sandin 2000)

Diets that are plentiful in roughage prolong the mastication process and the production of salivary bicarbonate that protects the gastric mucosa.  A diet of high grain and low roughage thus predisposes to EGUS. (Nadea 2009).  High starch meals are a risk because they are fermented to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and lactic acid and are also emptied from the stomach relatively slowly (Metayer et al. 2004)(Taharaguchi et al. 2004; Boswinkel et al. 2007)(Nadeau 2009)

In an investigated standardbred population in the Netherlands the amount of concentrate fed is not an important predisposing factor.(Prevalence)

In an investigated standardbred population in the Netherlands the amount of concentrate fed is not an important predisposing factor.(Prevalence)

Equine Vet J. 2009 Sep;41(7):625-30.

Equine Vet J. 2009 Sep;41(7):625-30.