Reducing the Risk of Ulcers
Gastric ulcers are the result of the erosion of an area of stomach lining due to the prolonged exposure to normal acid in a horse’s stomach; the depth of the erosion determines the severity of the ulcer.
The horse’s stomach is divided into two parts – the bottom part is glandular and secretes acid, but it has a protective coating to prevent it being damaged by acid. The top part is designed for mixing the stomach’s contents and is not as protected from the acid, hence this is where ulcers are most commonly found.
Horses are trickle feeders and in the wild would spend the majority of their day eating; because of this their stomachs continually secrete acid. However, if a horse does not feeding regularly, it can result in an excess of acid due to lack of food and saliva (which is only produced when the horse eats) to buffer the acid.
Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can transport, training and stabling. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach and the blood flow to the stomach, thus contributing to the problem. The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, thus decreasing acid production within the horse's stomach.
Allen & Page Horse Feeds recommends the following points towards the avoidance of gastric ulcers:
1. Allow ad lib access to grass or hay, or other fibre sources. Horses are designed to be grazers with a regular intake of roughage.
2. Turn your horse out as much as possible.
3. If your horse is confined to his stable, ensure he has company or something to keep him entertained, such as a stable mirror, ball or lick.
4. Feed your horse smaller feeds more frequently to help buffer the acid in the stomach.
5. Feedstuffs that are low in starch and high in fibre are best. Allen & Page has a number of suitable feeds: Ride & Relax, Slim & Healthy, Fibre Pencils, Sugar & Cereal Intolerance Diet and Calm & Condition, or Sustain can be fed to horses in with a heavy work load.
As always, prevention is better than cure. Limiting stressful situations along with frequent feeding or ad lib access to roughage is imperative.
