What to Expect During a Gastroscopy Appointment

Ella Riley CertNCS (VCC), RVCCA
2 days ago
2 min read

If your horse has been showing signs of gastric discomfort — such as girthiness, poor performance, changes in behaviour, or intermittent weight loss — it may be advisable to perform a gastroscopy to check for equine gastric ulcers.

A gastroscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), and while the idea of putting a camera into your horse’s stomach might sound daunting, the procedure is safe, straightforward, and offers invaluable insight into your horse’s health.

Here’s what to expect from start to finish.

1. Before the Appointment: Fasting is Key

To get clear images of your horse’s stomach, it must be empty of food and water.

Fasting guidelines:

No hay, feed or grass for 12 hours before the appointment.
No water for 2 hours prior to the scope.

Our team will confirm the exact timings with you beforehand. We understand fasting can be a bit stressful, so we’ll help you manage it safely and ensure your horse stays comfortable.

2. On Arrival: Settling In

Once we arrive at your yard, we’ll check fasting has gone to plan, and our vet will go through the procedure with you again to answer any questions you may have.

3. Sedation and Procedure

Your horse will be given sedation to keep them calm and relaxed. Then, a long, flexible camera (endoscope) is gently passed up the nose, down the oesophagus, and into the stomach. This allows us to visualise both the squamous (upper) and glandular (lower) regions of the stomach.

The scope also allows us to check for:

Gastric ulcers
Inflammation
Delayed gastric emptying
Parasites (e.g., bots)

The entire procedure usually takes 15–20 minutes, and the horse remains standing throughout.

4. Review and Discussion

We’ll review the images and discuss the findings with you straight away. If ulcers or other abnormalities are found, we’ll recommend a treatment and management plan tailored to your horse’s needs. This might include:

Prescription medication (such as omeprazole)
Dietary adjustments
Changes to turnout and feeding frequency
Management of stress or exercise routines

If the stomach looks healthy — great news! We’ll still be happy to offer advice on maintaining good gastric health.

5. Aftercare

Your horse can return to normal routine shortly after the sedation has worn off — usually within 60 minutes. We recommend holding off on feed for at least an hour post-procedure, and then gradually reintroducing forage and water.

There’s no long-term recovery needed, and most horses tolerate the procedure very well.

FAQs

Is it painful for the horse?

No — the procedure is not painful. Horses are sedated and the endoscope is passed gently. Most horses tolerate it very well.

What happens if ulcers are found?

Treatment typically involves a course of medication and management changes. Ulcers often respond well to treatment with appropriate follow-up.

How common are ulcers?

Very! Studies suggest that up to 90% of performance horses may have some degree of gastric ulceration — often without obvious signs.