How to Test for Horse Ulcers and Other Questions
Equine gastric ulcers are a common issue which can affect all types of horses, regardless of their age or breed. Poor performance and a change in behaviour can highlight a health issue for the most observant horse owners, but what are the types of ulcers, how do you test for horse ulcers, and how can we help prevent gastric ulceration from occurring?
What Are Equine Gastric Ulcers?
Equine gastric ulcers, medically known as equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), occur when the protective lining of a horse’s stomach is damaged, resulting in sores or lesions. This can lead to various symptoms, including poor appetite, weight loss, behavioural changes, and signs of discomfort like frequent stretching or lying down.
The Different Types of Ulcers
Equine gastric ulcers can be classified into two primary types based on their location in the stomach:
- Squamous Ulcers:
These ulcers occur in the squamous mucosa, which is the upper portion of the stomach. Horses are primarily grazers with a diet rich in fibrous forages, so their stomachs produce acid continuously. When the horse is not eating, excess stomach acid can damage this sensitive area, leading to the development of stomach ulcers known as squamous ulcers. The symptoms of ulcers often include reluctance to work, weight loss, and changes in feeding behaviour.
- Glandular Ulcers:
These ulcers occur in the glandular mucosa, which is the lower part of the stomach where gastric acid and digestive enzymes are produced. Glandular ulcers can be more challenging to treat and may not respond to standard ulcer treatments. Common signs include intermittent abdominal pain, recurrent colic, and, in severe ulcer cases, can lead to gastric impaction or delayed gastric emptying.
Understanding the difference between these types of ulcers is crucial, as it affects the approach to diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, horses can suffer from one type of ulcer or both simultaneously, making it important for owners to be vigilant and aware of their horse’s behaviour and physical condition.
How To Test For Horse Ulcers
1. Veterinary Examination
The most reliable way to diagnose gastric ulcers is through a thorough veterinary examination. Your veterinarian will consider your horse’s symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle. Your equine vet will consider these factors, which determine any trigger factors in horse health which could indicate ulcers. Even healthy horses with shiny coats can present with ulcers, and it’s not just performance horses but leisure horses, too.
2. Gastric Endoscopy
For a definitive diagnosis of gastric ulcers, there is a procedure known as a gastroscopy. This involves inserting a long, flexible tube with a camera into your horse’s stomach to visually inspect the lining for any gastric ulceration. It allows the veterinarian to assess the clinical signs, severity and extent of the ulcers. During the procedure, the veterinarian can take biopsies if necessary, which can provide further information about the condition of the gastric mucosa. While gastroscopy is the most effective method for diagnosing ulcers, it does require sedation and is typically performed at a veterinary clinic.
3. Non-invasive Diagnostic Tests
In addition to gastroscopy, there are non-invasive tests that can suggest the presence of ulcers:
- Faecal Analysis: Certain tests can detect the presence of blood or markers indicating gastric mucosal damage in the faeces.
- Ultrasound: Although less common for diagnosing ulcers specifically, abdominal ultrasound can help assess overall digestive health and identify other issues that may mimic ulcer symptoms.
4. Symptom Observation
While not a definitive diagnostic tool, observing your horse for specific behavioural changes can provide insights into potential gastric issues. Signs to watch for include:
- Changes in eating habits (e.g., reluctance to eat or changes in feed preferences)
- Weight loss or poor body condition
- Behavioural signs such as biting or kicking at their belly, excessive rolling, or changes in attitude (e.g., more irritable than usual)
If you notice these symptoms, it’s essential to seek the advice of a veterinarian promptly. Early intervention can help prevent the condition from worsening and can also aid in establishing an effective treatment plan.
5. Follow-Up and Management
Once diagnosed, it’s crucial to work closely with your veterinarian to manage your horse’s ulcers effectively. Treatment may involve medications such as proton pump inhibitors, antacids, or sucralfate, which help reduce stomach acidity and promote healing.
Each horse’s response to treatment will vary, with many vets recommending a second scope post-treatment to ensure that any squamous ulceration and glandular ulceration are no longer visible. Deep ulceration can take any time, from four weeks to fifty-six days, to heal with the correct medication.
Once ulcers have been treated, how you manage your horse going forward will determine the chances of ulcer recurrence.
Additionally, changes in management practices which can support recovery and enhance the health in horses include;
- Dietary Adjustments: Feeding a high-fibre diet, including hay or pasture, can help buffer gastric acid and reduce ulcer formation. Consider adding supplements specifically designed to support gastric health and the digestive tract. There are lots of equine supplements designed to create a protective mucus layer, but aloe vera acts in a unique way. Aloeride is ideal for supporting athletic performance because of its 100% organic natural composition AND the dosage that is right for the significant body mass that is a horse. Our MD has a bee in his bonnet about when in time gastric ulceration became as prevalent in the horse world as it is now. Because it wasn’t always this common (up to 90% of racehorses can have stomach ulcers; some studies estimate that 50–90% of all horses have them). It would be worth comparing the before and since hard-feed and here is an article that discusses such.
- Regular Feeding Routine: Feed horses with smaller, more frequent meals rather than large, sparse rations can minimise acid production and exposure to the stomach lining. Avoid high-grain diets and focus on giving your horse a steady flow of forage and focusing on a natural, high-roughage diet can help. Avoid a long period without feed and always feed a scoop of chaff for half an hour before transport stress and before riding to create a buffer against the acidic fluid in the gut.
- Reduced Stress: Minimizing stressors in your horse’s environment, such as changes in routine, isolation, or aggressive handling, can significantly impact their overall well-being and reduce the risk of developing ulcers. If your horse has to go on box rest for an injury make sure you manage their gastric acid secretion by giving them stable toys and a high-roughage, low-concentrate diet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes Horse Ulcers?
Gastric ulcers in horses are commonly attributed to several factors, including high-stress situations, competition, intense training, and prolonged periods of fasting. Other contributing factors can include dietary deficiencies and the type of feed being provided. Here’s a closer look at specific causes of ulcers in horses:
1. Dietary Factors
The equine digestive system is designed for continuous grazing; therefore, prolonged periods without food can lead to excessive acid production in the stomach, increasing the risk of ulceration. Furthermore, diets high in grain and low in forage can exacerbate gastric acidity, leading to discomfort and ulcers. The best diets are forage diets, such as a high-roughage, low-concentrate diet and feeding smaller portions of feed more regularly to help absorb stomach splashes.
2. Stressful Environments
Horses are highly sensitive animals, and each individual horse reacts differently to environmental stressors, which for some animals can significantly affect their digestive health. Stressful events such as travelling, changes in stabling arrangements, introduction to new herd members, or even intense training sessions can trigger stress and equine ulcers. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can increase the production of stomach acid, leading to a greater likelihood of ulcer development. This excessive gastric acid production will create a continuing cycle of stress and pain and, over a period of time, will result in ulcers.
3. Medical Conditions and Medications
Certain medical conditions can predispose horses to gastric ulcers. For instance, horses that undergo surgery or suffer from chronic illnesses may experience increases in stress and changes in normal feeding. Additionally, long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), commonly used for pain management in horses, can irritate the stomach lining and disrupt the protective mucus barrier in equine stomachs, thereby increasing ulcer risk.
4. Age and Breed Factors
Age can be a significant factor in the development of gastric ulcers. Young, growing horses, particularly those in rigorous training or competition, face a higher predisposition due to their developing digestive systems. Certain breeds, such as Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, have also been reported to have a higher incidence of gastric ulcers, possibly due to their training regimens and predisposition to stress. However, adult horses with less stressful lives comparable to that say of a competition horse may still get hindgut ulcers in their lifetime.
5. Inactivity
Horses that are kept in stalls for extended periods without adequate exercise or turnout are at an increased risk of developing ulcers. Physical activity can stimulate digestive processes and promote normal gut health. Conversely, inactivity can build up stomach acid, increasing the likelihood of ulcer formation. Being stabled for long periods of time is often a difficult situation many horse owners find at a lot of livery yards in the UK, especially over the winter months. Try to incorporate some form of exercise every day to break up long periods of time standing in the stable and be vigilant for the signs of ulcers.
