Gastric ulcers in horses are common but often overlooked problems that can significantly affect the health and performance of horses. They can occur in all horses, pleasure horses, broodmares and even young foals, but mainly in sport horses.
What are gastric ulcers?
Gastric ulcers are lesions or sores that develop in the lining of the stomach. They occur when the stomach lining is damaged by overly acidic stomach contents. This can also cause gastritis. They can occur in (1) the squamous mucosa (the upper, non-glandular part of the stomach) or (2) the glandular mucosa (the lower, glandular part).
Causes of gastric ulcers in horses
One of the main causes is prolonged exposure to stomach acid, which can damage the protective layer of the stomach. This can be aggravated by several factors:
Prolonged periods without food
A horse constantly produces stomach acid. If a horse does not have food for a long time, the stomach acid cannot be buffered. Then the stomach acid attacks the stomach wall and can promote the development of gastric ulcers. Therefore, it is very important that your horse receives roughage at regular intervals. An incorrect balance between roughage and concentrated feed can also cause the stomach acid level to become unbalanced.
Other dietary factors such as intermittent feeding, high sugar and starch intake, large amounts of straw as feed and prolonged periods without access to food have all been associated with an increased risk of gastric ulcers.
Increased stress levels
Intensive training, competitions and transport can also promote gastric ulcers. By increasing stress levels in your horse, this can lead to reduced blood flow to the stomach lining. This can affect the integrity of the mucous membranes and increase sensitivity to gastric ulcers.
What symptoms does a horse with a gastric ulcer show?
Horses with gastric complications often suffer from the following symptoms:
- Reduced appetite
- Reduced performance
- Resistance during riding
- Poor, dull coat
- Grinding teeth
- Weight loss
- Negative reaction to girth tightening
- Frequent yawning
- Change in behaviour
It often happens that gastric ulcers are not immediately recognised for various reasons:
Non-specific symptoms
Because the characteristics of stomach problems are vague and non-specific, they often go unnoticed. Many of the signs of gastric ulcers can also occur with other health problems. As a result, the symptoms are not immediately associated with stomach problems. Owners may also attribute symptoms such as slight reduced performance or subtle changes in appetite to fatigue, causing the underlying problem to be overlooked.
Silent ulcers
Some horses can also have gastric ulcers without showing clear symptoms, which are also called 'silent ulcers'. Horses are naturally inclined to tolerate minor discomfort without showing clear signs, for example in case of stomach pain. They can be difficult to detect without diagnostic tests such as gastroscopy. As a result, these horses can remain undetected and untreated for a long time, which can lead to serious complications in the long term.
How are gastric ulcers diagnosed?
Gastric ulcers are diagnosed by gastroscopy. In this procedure, a flexible endoscope with a small camera at the end is inserted. This is guided via the horse's nose through the oesophagus to the stomach to visualise the inside of the horse's stomach. In this way, the vet can inspect the stomach for signs of irritation, ulcers, inflammation and other abnormalities.
Because the symptoms of gastric ulcers are non-specific, they can only be detected by gastroscopy. This method is excellent for diagnosing gastric ulcers, but it is not always practical or cost-effective to perform this procedure on every horse with suspected gastric problems.
How can you treat and prevent gastric ulcers?
The treatment of stomach problems usually involves a change in management and adjustment of the diet. Consider, for example, increasing grazing time, providing access to food throughout the day and reducing stress factors. In many cases, the vet will also recommend Omeprazole for treatment. This is an antacid that will largely block stomach acid production.
Prevention is better than cure! Global Medics has two powerful supplements that support healthy stomach function:
Gastryl
Gastryl is specially formulated for horses with a sensitive stomach and possibly associated poor appetite. It contains various components that regulate the acidity in the stomach, including magnesium hydroxide, Lithothamne, sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate.
The supplement can be easily administered orally by means of the tube, for efficient absorption. If necessary, a course of Gastryl can be followed by Gastro-Care+.
Gastro-Care+
Gastro-Care+ on the one hand neutralises excess stomach acid and on the other hand protects the stomach lining against irritation. Thanks to the addition of glutamine and sodium bicarbonate, Gastro-Care+ will accelerate the recovery of damaged mucous membranes. Matricaria recutita and magnesium have a soothing effect on the stomach and intestinal lining, which relieves unpleasant abdominal discomfort.
Gastro-Care+ has an extremely powerful and protective effect on the stomach lining and ensures that gastric complications in horses occur less frequently.
Tips to prevent gastric ulcers
- Provide your horse with sufficient access to high-quality roughage to promote saliva production and buffer stomach acid.
- Ensure your horse has sufficient grazing to have a constant supply to the stomach. If grazing is not possible, make sure you give your horse small, frequent meals to mimic natural grazing behaviour.
- Support healthy stomach function by offering your horse a supplement such as Gastryl or Gastro-Care+.
Want to know more about your horse's digestion? Read our blog here.
