Unfortunately, equine ulcers are an all too common occurrence. In fact, researchers estimate that 60-90% of all performance horses will develop the condition known as equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) at some point. However, non-performance horses and even foals can develop ulcers as well.
Our horses are prone to ulcers for several reasons, but the most important factor leading to EGUS involves feeding practices that do not align with the way a horse’s digestive system works. The horse’s stomach is quite small compared to their body size and it cannot handle large amounts of food at once. Instead, horses need small, frequent meals of mostly forage throughout the day.
Because of this, EGUS is considered a manmade problem. In fact, the following factors can all lead to gastric ulcer development in horses:
- Stall confinement
- High-grain diets
- Strenuous exercise
- Long periods with no access to forage
- Transport
- Overuse of NSAIDs
Types of Gastric Ulcers in Horses
Photo by Josephine Amalie Paysen on Unsplash
A horse with EGUS can develop ulcers in four main parts of the digestive system, including the:
1.) Lower part of the esophagus
2.) Lining of the nonglandular region of the stomach
3.) Lining of the glandular region of the stomach
3.) The first part of the small intestine
With that said, ulcers are most commonly found in the nonglandular region of the stomach, which serves as a temporary storage site for ingested food. Ulcers also frequently occur in the lower part of the esophagus. This could be due to acid reflux associated with unnatural feeding practices that can lead to decreased pH levels in the stomach. Acid reflux may also occur with gastric compression during intense exercise.
Ulcers in the glandular region of the stomach are considered rare, but some researchers think they may be more common than we know. These types of ulcers have been associated with the overuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as bute (phenylbutazone) and banamine (flunixin meglumine).
Hindgut Ulcers
Though not as common, horses can also develop ulcers in the hindgut or large colon. These types of ulcers are most commonly caused by overuse of NSAIDs like bute and banamine. Though they aren’t as common as gastric ulcers, hindgut ulcers are still believed to affect a large number of horses. Therefore it’s important not to over-rely on NSAIDs and choose safer, natural forms of pain relief such as Bjute.
Natural Ulcer Support
Traditional ulcer medications such as omeprazole treat ulcers by suppressing the production of stomach acid. Not only is omeprazole expensive, it also comes with risks such as rebound acid hyper secretion, reduced protein and mineral digestibility, as well as increased pathogenic bacteria in the gut.
Instead, we recommend making changes such as feeding free-choice forage and avoiding stall confinement. For a natural solution to equine ulcers, try Gastrox instead. This product uses organic herbs such as aloe vera leaf and slippery elm bark to encourage self-healing of the stomach lining without interfering with normal digestion and absorption processes. Our Bentonite Clay is also an excellent choice for treating ulcers.
No matter the type of ulcers your horse may be dealing with, making management and feeding changes that align with their digestive system and supplementing with a natural ulcer support product like Gastrox or Bentonite Clay is the best way to go.