Gastric Ulcers in horses

Gastric Ulcers in horses are caused by the gradual deterioration of the stomach lining as a result of prolonged excessive acidity.

Horses in the wild are natural grazers and regularly digest grass and hay (roughage). When confined to stables or yards, and provided feed only at certain times of the day, they become susceptible to ulcers.

This is because the stomach of a horse is continually secreting acid and continual grazing produces saliva that contains bicarbonate (alkaline) to neutralize the acid build up.

Apart from unnatural feeding regimes, concentrate feeding (high grain diets) can contribute by increasing the production of fatty acids. Other factors involved include stress, transportation (particularly a long haul with no feed), strenuous training (it is estimated 90% of racehorses suffer gastric ulcers to some degree), and continual administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e g “Bute”).

Symptoms

Vary from no signs at all to severe Colic, but generally include poor appetite, poor condition (including dull coat), change of attitude, poor performance (racing or other activity), and mild to severe Colic.

In foals, diarrhea is prevalent but this is not the case in adult horses.

The best method of diagnosis when ulcers are suspected, due to the presence of one or more of these signs, is by endoscopic examination. This is a procedure performed by a Veterinarian that allows observation inside a horse’s stomach without surgery. The Endoscope (fiberscope) is a long flexible tube with a lens at one end and a telescope at the other. The end with the lens is inserted through the nostril and down the esophagus into the stomach. Light passes down the tube (via bundles of optical fibres) to illuminate the stomach lining, and the telescope eyepiece magnifies the area enabling the vet to see what is there.

Treatment

The obvious and natural remedy is to return the horse to the paddock to graze all day. Most ulcers will heal spontaneously if this course of action is adopted. Alternatively, stabled horses receiving smaller, more numerous feeds throughout the day, with less grain content and more hay and chaff (roughage) would alleviate the condition.

Sadly, neither of these natural solutions is practicable in racehorse or other performance horses, as trainers believe horses would not perform at optimum levels given these considerations.

In these situations, decreasing acid production is the aim and at least more frequent feeding with no more than 4lb of grain per feed, and reducing workload until appetite improves will help. Gradual change to grains with less fatty acids should also be implemented.

The drug Omeprazole has emerged in recent years as the most potent anti--ulcer medication currently available. It is in the class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPI) which blocks the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. It is effective but unfortunately expensive. Brands include Ulcergard, Gastrogard and Omoguard.