I’m seeking advice on how to prevent gastric ulcers in horses. I’ve noticed that some of my horses seem uncomfortable and are showing signs that could be indicative of gastric ulcers, such as reduced appetite, weight loss, and general restlessness. This has become a growing concern for me as I understand that ulcers can seriously impact a horse’s health and well-being. I’m particularly interested in any effective preventive measures, dietary recommendations, or management practices that could help reduce the risk of ulcers. Any insights from experienced horse owners, veterinarians, or equine nutritionists would be greatly appreciated, as I want to ensure the best possible care for my horses.
If more than 1 horse is having issues, ulcers aren’t where I’d start, I’d be looking at the hay, water, etc, anything that could be contaminated
What, if anything, is in common with the horses having issues, that’s different from the ones that aren’t? How many are we talking?
What are the diets of these horses?
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Sorry to hear that your horse isn’t feeling well. It’s always tough when our furry friends are under the weather. I came across a blog that might have some helpful tips on preventing gastric ulcers in horses,https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/equine-gastric-ulcer-syndrome. Wishing a speedy recovery for your horse!
I’m not sure about your horse’s current condition or if you’re considering a more scientific approach to its diet. Is the horse currently unwell? The article I mentioned contains useful tips on preventing gastric ulcers that could be helpful.
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Thank you very much for your advice. Right now, I’m just suspecting that two of my horses might have ulcer issues, but this has not been definitively diagnosed yet. You mentioned checking the hay, water source, and other potential contaminants, which is a very good point. Indeed, these two horses that are having issues share some commonalities in diet and living environment with the healthy ones, but there are also differences. I will further observe and examine these factors that may affect their health, and seek advice from a professional veterinarian. I apologize if my previous statement caused any confusion.
Additionally, I am very interested in learning more about measures to prevent gastric ulcers in horses. If you have any suggestions or experiences to share, I would be very grateful.
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tks a lot
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thanks
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To be honest it seems like no matter what some people do their horses are just prone to ulcers. There are a bunch of threads on here about ulcers and it doesn’t seem to matter what/ how much the horses are fed ( hay wise) , if they are stalled or out 24/7, if they have hay 24/7 or not.
Even with scoping and treatment with the horse being cured, it seems that so many relapse and if you have one of those horses it must be agonizing.
I have never had a horse with ulcers ( thankfully) but I really think if you suspect ulcers you need to get it diagnosed asap so you can treat them. Your vet would be the best resource on advising you on diet and housing changes since he/ she has direct knowledge on how your horses are managed.
If it isn’t ulcers your vet can help you find out what it may be.
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Well, as has been mentioned, it does seem that some horses are just more prone to them and regardless of how well they are managed, they struggle with them.
BUT, there are some things we can do to decrease the likelihood of gastric ulcers. Among these are things like:
- As much turnout as possible, with 24/7 being ideal for most horses.
- Ample amounts of forage. Obviously grazing pasture is natural and good for most, but some horses cannot graze fresh grass due to metabolic or weight concerns. For them, and in the seasons that grass isn’t available, hay should be plentiful (1-2% of the horse’s bodyweight) and available for as much of the day as possible. This can be accomplished with several feedings spread over the day, or use of nets and feeders with small holes to slow the consumption rate to be more like that of grazing.
- Avoiding high starch feeds such as cereal grains (corn and oats). Horses digestive tracts are meant for forage, so a diet that is forage-based usually is best. Along with pasture and hay, this can include things like beet pulp and hay pellets or cubes. In fact, alfalfa (hay, chaff, cubes, or pellets) is also good for horses prone to ulcers as it acts as a buffer. Alfalfa is high in calcium, so…kind of horsey tums in the form of forage.
- Being careful about the use of NSAIDS like bute and Equioxx. Equioxx is the “lesser of the evils” of these, but can certainly still cause flare-ups and irritation of gastric ulcers. Many horses live on a daily dose of Equioxx with little to no trouble, but others (like my gelding) can have some issues with it and need a break now and then.
- Managing pain that the horse may be experiencing. Ulcers come from stress, and horses that are in pain are stressed. Horses dealing with chronic pain in the back, neck, hocks, feet, etc. are at risk for ulcers.
- Predicting and preparing for stressful events. Many horses get stressed when they are hauled, moved to a new barn, put on stall rest for an injury, or have their routine and management changed drastically for any other reason. When/if these things must happen, it’s suggested to give the horse the preventative dose of UlcerGard paste (omeprazole) starting a few days before the stressful event if possible and continuing through the duration of the stressor.
There are other things too. I think it’s usually in a horse’s best interest to be allowed to “be a horse.” Which means, let him/her live the way horses are intended to live and feed them what horses are intended to eat, and remember that by nature they are a lot more sensitive to anything that deviates from the basic “horse life” they are designed to live. Most of the things we want to do with them (ride them, train them, transport them, stall them) fall into this category, so in order to do these things and protect their delicate systems, we have to be proactive in making all other facets of their lives as stress-free and natural as possible.
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RhythmNCruise said almost everything I would say. I’d only add that my vet had me take my horse off all grain. I feed him PlatinumPlus GI, lots of grass hay and a bucket of alfalfa cubes dry. She said to feed the cubes dry to encourage saliva production as that helps with ulcers. If he loses weight this cold stretch, I can add canola or olive oil to his cubes. All I can say is that it’s working well. (He’s turned out with a buddy at least 8 hours a day, weather permitting)
Tell us about your program. It might be easier to specify for the 2 you suspect are ulcer prone.
What do you feed grain wise? Frequency, type, amount
How much hay do your horses receive?
What is turn out like?
Are horses receiving medications?
Do horses frequently show?
What does the training program look like?
I do believe management style has a lot to do with ulcers.
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