| Is your horse off colour? Has he lost his appetite? Is | | | | of the stomach can cope with being bathed |
| he performing poorly? All these signs can be | | | | continuously in the acidic stomach contents, the upper |
| indications of gastric ulcers. | | | | portion can not. Anything that leaves the upper portion |
| Up to 90% of racehorses in training may be affected | | | | of the stomach in contact with the acidic fluid |
| by gastric ulcers. But not only racehorses suffer from | | | | increases the risk of ulcers. Unfortunately, that includes |
| this condition. Surveys have found that up to 60% of | | | | many common management practices. Stabling, |
| sport horses and 35% of leisure horses are affected. | | | | concentrate feeding, intensive exercise, and transport |
| It is only since advances in technology have made it | | | | have all been shown to increase the risk of ulcers. |
| possible to examine the inside of the stomach that the | | | | Essentially, what happens is that the stomach starts to |
| true extent of the problem has come to light. The only | | | | digest itself. |
| way to find out if a horse has gastric ulcers is by using | | | | The mildest cases may just have one or two small |
| a gastroscope. This flexible tube is passed through a | | | | ulcers. But severely affected horses can have |
| nostril and on into the stomach. A small video camera | | | | extensive areas of deep ulceration. |
| fitted to the end displays an image of the inside of the | | | | Even though they may have severe ulcers, horses |
| stomach on a television screen. In smaller ponies, the | | | | rarely show dramatic signs of illness or pain. The often |
| stomach is within the reach of standard equipment. But | | | | subtle signs that ulcers produce allow many to go |
| for horses, a gastroscope up to 3 metres long may be | | | | undetected. Non-specific signs such as loss of appetite, |
| needed, | | | | poor performance, and recurrent colic, are commonly |
| The inner surface of the stomach can be divided into | | | | seen in horses with gastric ulcers. |
| two parts according to the different types of cells that | | | | Gastric ulcers will usually respond to treatment with |
| make up the lining. The upper, non-glandular, part is pale | | | | modern medication that reduces the acid production. |
| pink. It is in this part that gastric ulcers typically occur. | | | | Many owners notice an improvement within a few |
| The lower part of the stomach is darker in colour and | | | | days of starting treatment. |
| is covered with acid-secreting glands. | | | | But there is a risk that the ulcers will return once the |
| The glands secrete acid to break down food material. | | | | treatment stops. So it is also important to address the |
| This occurs continuously, regardless of whether the | | | | underlying causes. By trying to provide a more natural |
| horse is eating or not. On the other hand, saliva is only | | | | lifestyle for the horse, it may be possible to balance his |
| produced when the horse is eating. Under natural | | | | needs with the requirements for training. For example, |
| grazing conditions the horse spends much of the time | | | | feed the best quality roughage so that high |
| grazing, which ensures a continuous supply of food | | | | carbohydrate feeds can be kept to a minimum. Give |
| material and saliva to dilute the acidic stomach | | | | several small meals throughout the day. Allow some |
| contents. | | | | turnout time daily. |
| . | | | | If you are concerned that your horse might have |
| What is the cause of ulcers? Although the lower part | | | | gastric ulcers speak to your veterinarian. |