TL;DR
- Ulcers in horses affect 50-90% of adult horses, with racehorses showing the highest prevalence at approximately 90%.
- Common symptoms of ulcers in horses include poor appetite, weight loss, dull coat, behavioral changes, and mild colic.
- Gastric ulcers in horses develop due to excessive stomach acid, inadequate forage intake, high-grain diets, stress, and intense training.
- FDA-approved omeprazole treatment shows 92% healing rates within 28 days when combined with dietary management.
- Prevention focuses on increased forage access, reduced starch intake, proper feeding schedules, and stress management.
The Prevalence of Equine Gastric Ulcers
One of the most prevalent health issues affecting horse populations in the US is ulcers in horses. An estimated 37–48% of adult horses suffer from Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), with rates even higher in racehorses and performance horses.
Maintaining your horse's health, comfort, and performance requires an understanding of the symptoms, causes, and available treatments for gastric ulcers in horses. This thorough guide from our experts gives horse health tips that owners need to identify, manage, and avoid this common ailment.
What Are Ulcers in Horses?
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome refers to erosions and lesions that develop in the stomach lining of horses. The condition manifests in two distinct forms: Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD), which affects the upper, non-glandular portion of the stomach, and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD), which impacts the lower, acid-producing glandular region.
Studies show that ulcers are common in racehorses even when they're not training. About 37–52% of Thoroughbreds, 38–56% of Standardbreds, and 48% of endurance horses develop ulcers during rest periods. However, these numbers get much worse once training begins. When actively training, ulcer rates jump dramatically; up to 100% in Thoroughbreds, 72–88% in Standardbreds, and 57–93% in endurance horses. This shows that the stress and demands of training significantly increase the risk of ulcers in racehorses.
Horses are different from human beings since they secrete acid in their stomachs constantly. This increases their chances of developing ulcers. The equine stomach's unique anatomy, with its small size relative to body weight and constant acid production, creates an environment where ulcers can form rapidly when protective factors are compromised.
Signs and Symptoms of Ulcers in Horses
Recognizing early signs and symptoms of ulcers in horses can prevent progression and promote quicker recovery. However, different horses may manifest extensive variations in signs and symptoms, with some horses even showing quite serious lesions with little or no evident signs.
Common Symptoms
These are initial indicators in horses when they have gastric ulcers:
- Poor appetite or selective eating, especially rejection of grains but acceptance of hay.
- Weight loss and failure to maintain body condition despite adequate feeding.
- Dull, rough coat that lacks normal shine.
- Indications of behavioral changes, such as irascibility, aggressiveness, or unwillingness.
- Colic, mild to recurrent, especially after feeding.
- Poor performance and lack of enthusiasm during training.
- Bruxism, or grinding of the teeth, especially during or following meals.
Advanced or Severe Symptoms
More serious cases may present additional warning signs:
- Diarrhea that continues even after changes in diet.
- Excess salivation of the mouth.
- Lying down more frequently than usual.
- Resistance to girthing, saddling, and pressure in the abdominal area.
What Causes Gastric Ulcers in Horses?
There are many predisposing factors that may contribute to ulcers in horses.
- Ongoing low feeding and the need to fast are leading causes, as the horse recognizes the need to graze for 16-18 hours a day.
- An equine diet high in grains and low in forage may lead to excess consumption of sugars and starches. The horse produces more acid and cuts down on the protective mechanism of continuous food flow.
- Hard exercise may cause the acid in the stomach to splash onto the sensitive parts of the gastric squamous epithelium.
- Stress due to travel schedules and confinement of horses in stalls can sometimes accelerate the secretion of acid.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), including phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine, may decrease the protective prostaglandins along the gastric lining, rendering horses more susceptible to ulcers.
Treatment Options for Ulcers in Horses
Effective ulcer management combines pharmaceutical intervention with strategic dietary modifications.
Medication
FDA-approved omeprazole is often sold under the trade name GASTROGARD™ and is considered the gold standard for treating equine gastric ulcers. This proton pump inhibitor works to decrease HCl secretion in the stomach, thereby facilitating ulcer healing.
Dietary Management
The dietary changes are necessary because pharmacological therapy can never act on the causation of ulcers on its own:
- Provide more forage opportunity for free-choice hay, making sure that horses get at least 1.5% body weight per day from forage.
- Limit grain and concentrate feeds, especially those high in starch.
- Eat smaller, but more, portions throughout the day.
- Provide alfalfa hay, which offers natural buffering properties.
- Restrict starch and sugar to lower acid formation.
Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, after many years of expertise in equine health, understands that a holistic approach embracing proper medication and food selection change is needed to manage ulcers effectively.
Prevention Strategies for Gastric Ulcers in Horses
Prevention is far more effective and efficient than attempting treatment of established disease. The following steps will help horse owners provide multiple protective strategies:
- Ensure continuous access to high-quality forage, giving your horses at least 1.5% of their body weight in hay or pasture each day. Forage intake and starch reduction are the two most important factors in ulcer prevention.
- Maximize turnout time and natural grazing opportunities to allow horses to exhibit natural feeding behaviors.
- Always feed hay prior to exercise in order to create a protective forage mat in the stomach.
- Reduce stress by establishing routine daily schedules, adequate social interaction, and gradual training progression.
- Use NSAIDs judiciously, only in necessary situations, and at the lowest effective dose possible.
- Consider omeprazole during high-risk periods like competition seasons or transportation for prevention.
- Monitor body condition and behavior regularly for early warning signs.
Final Thoughts
Ulcers in horses commonly occur in most performance and working horses. However, the right information can help you safeguard your horses’ digestive health. Early detection of symptoms of ulcers in horses, compliance with scientifically recognized treatments and strategies, as well as using strategies to prevent ulcers in horses to enhance their health significantly, continue to be core goals of Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals to secure horse health through appropriate pharmaceuticals.
For more information about horses' health and pharmaceutical solutions, contact the Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals team. Take a moment to browse our complete supplement selection.
Unsure which product suits your horse’s routine? Feel free to call us at 833-809-4848, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
