Stomach Ulcers in Horses

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), is a collection of symptoms used to describe stomach ulcers in horses. They can be found either in the upper or lower parts of the stomach.

The upper part of the stomach (squamous region) is protected by a thin mucosal lining. This lining is easily damaged by acid splash (from the lower part of the stomach), bacteria or pathogens. Ulcers which occur here are known as Equine Squamous Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (ESGUS).

The lower part of the stomach (glandular region), produces acid. The acid is important to kill harmful organisms and helps break down proteins from food. This part of the stomach is protected from acid attack by a thick mucosal lining. Damage to the lining allows ulcers to form here, known as Equine Glandular Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGGUS).

Causes

Stomach ulcers are caused mainly by the way horses are managed i.e. lack of suitable forage, stressed grass (high in sugars and fructans), musculoskeletal pain, dental issues, hoof pain/imbalance or emotional stress.

Commonly these include:

• Not enough high fibre forage e.g. hay / haylage – not chewing for long enough periods

• Pain e.g. musculoskeletal issues, injuries, sharp teeth, ill fitting tack or incorrect training

• Exercising on an empty stomach

• Emotional stress – e.g disruption to field mates, box rest, isolation

• Training stress – too difficult either mentally or physically

Symptoms

Ulcers can present in different ways, which can include:

• Crib biting

• Wind sucking

• Weaving

• Grinding teeth

• Reactive to being touched near withers or stomach

• Diarrohea/ loose droppings

• Aggressive at feeding time- rushes to feed bucket, pawing, threatening neighbours, kicking wall

• Reacts against being rugged, tacked up or brushed

• Bucking

• Refusing to go forward

• Spookiness

• Dull coat

• Lethargic

• Loses weight

• Poor appetite

• Poor quality hooves

• Hind limb lameness

• Stiffness

• Muscle atrophy

• Muscle soreness e.g hamstrings, glutes

• Long toes, low heels in hind hooves

Management

Always call your vet if you have any concerns about your horse’s health. If your horse has ulcers, a whole horse approach is required. Part of that approach requires all aspects of their management to be carefully considered. Changes need to be made to prevent them from coming back.

These include:

• Feed fibre before exercise e.g. small amount of roughage – high fibre feed, meadow grass chaff, alfalfa or a small haynet.

• Do not leave your horse more than 1 hour without access to some sort of rough fibre

• Increase amounts of available forage – low carbohydrate/low sugar, high fibre hay and haylage. Put hay/haylage in field if necessary. This will increase chewing time on low carbohydrate/low sugar, high fibre hay and haylage. The action of chewing, produces saliva. This buffers the acid continually produced by the lower part of the stomach.

• Use feeds that better suit the physiology of the horse – cereal free, high fibre, low sugar/carbohydrate, low concentrates e.g Flourish Horse Health, Agrobs etc.

• Know when grass is high in sugar and fructans and adjust grazing time if appropriate.

• Reduce stress

• Use qualified body worker e.g physio/osteopath to treat compensatory muscle pain

• Check teeth, back, hooves, saddle fit regularly

• Make sure the exercise/training programme is suitable for your horse