EQUINE GASTRIC ULCER SYNDROME

WHAT IS EQUINE GASTRIC ULCER SYNDROME?

Equine gastric ulcers are a common problem affecting over 50% of horses. An ulcer is the loss of the surface layer of the stomach lining, exposing the sensitive layers below to stomach acid which causes pain.

Ulcers are more often found in sports horses and racehorses, but they can affect any horse at any age. There are two forms of equine gastric ulcers; squamous ulcers and glandular ulcers, depending in which area of the stomach they occur - together these come under the umbrella term Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome.¹

HOW TO SPOT IF YOUR HORSE HAS GASTRIC ULCERS

The signs that a horse may be suffering from gastric ulcers can be very difficult to spot. Gastric ulceration can cause significant discomfort to your horse and as horses cannot tell us they are in pain, we can see in it in lots of different signs, including:

• reduced appetite
• weight loss/drop in condition
• reduced performance
• changes in behaviour
• reluctance to go forward or extend the stride
• pain on tightening girth
• repeated colic episodes

If your horse shows any of these signs, contact your vet for further advice.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR HORSE HAS GASTRIC ULCERS

If you are concerned that your horse may have ulcers, contact your vet for advice. As the signs of gastric ulcers are variable and can be very subtle, it’s impossible to tell whether a horse has ulcers from the symptoms alone. These signs can also be caused by other diseases so it is essential to rule out other causes. The only way to know if a horse has ulcers, and what type of ulcers they have, is by gastroscopy which means passing a flexible tube with a camera through the nose and down into the stomach. Once gastric ulcers have been diagnosed, your vet will advise the best treatment and management plan.

CAUSES OF GASTRIC ULCERS

Various factors make gastric ulcers more likely, particularly anything that causes stress. Triggers that can cause stress and lead to ulcers include:

• changes in routine, such as moving yards
• intense work, such as competitions
• travelling
• box rest, for example due to illness or injury
• lack of access to forage and feeding high levels of concentrates
• isolation from other horses

MANAGING A HORSE WITH GASTRIC ULCERS

When gastric ulcers are diagnosed, your vet is likely to prescribe oral omeprazole, a licensed medication, meaning it has been shown to be safe and effective for treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers in horses.

Management of a horse with gastric ulcers is extremely important alongside medication, to not only bring about the effective and timely resolution of the ulcers, but also to help prevent further episodes. Key is to remove the stressful stimulus that has triggered the ulcers and to keep to a regular routine.

Feeding is another important consideration. Ideally horses should have free access to forage and water at all times, however if this is not possible, the risk of ulcers can be reduced by making sure the horse goes no longer than 4 hours without access to forage. Limiting the amount of concentrates fed can also help, as can giving a small roughage feed (e.g. chaff or forage) 30 minutes before exercising to help protect the stomach by preventing acid splashing onto the upper stomach.

Consider adding a pectin-lecithin complex such as Equitop^® Pronutrin which forms a gel in the stomach to support the natural mucus defences.²