The major advantage is this treatment has the same active ingredient, omeprazole, as in human ulcer medication. Question – Once a horse has ulcers, will they always be prone to them? 2,3 But in horses that were well fed before exercise, a reduced amount of acidic injury was noticed in them. The glandular region comprises the caudoventral two-thirds of the equine stomach and consists of subsections: cardiac, fundic, and pyloric.1 The cardiac section is located near the margo plicatus; the fundic section encompasses the body of the stomach, including the lesser and greater curvature, and the pyloric section encompasses the caudal portion of the stomach leading into the duodenum1 (FIGURE 1). Lessening the exercise schedule or opting for gentler activities can improve the horse’s condition. In terms of hay, however, the ulcerogenic effects of carbohydrates are minimized by other factors. Feed a scoop of unmolassed chaff before exercise. The list of things that cause or predispose horses to gastric ulceration is rather extensive. Nutrition and dietary management of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. When treating a horse with gastric ulcers, the veterinary healthcare team should have 3 main goals: eliminating clinical signs, encouraging the healing of ulcers through treatment, and preventing the recurrence of ulcers and potential complications.4 Treatment to heal gastric ulcers is often necessary. If you have an athletic or extremely physically active horse, your horse may be more prone to gastric ulcers. During exercise, contraction of the wall of the stomach allows gastric acids from glandular mucosa to flow into the non-glandular part of the horse’s stomach leading to gastric acid injury to the unprotected lining of the mucosa. Proper diagnosis can help you create an appropriate treatment plan. Prevalence of ulcers in horses Studies indicate the prevalence of gastric ulcers is high: 93% of Race horses 63% of Performance horses 37% of Leisure horses (that’s a 1 in 3 chance of developing gastric ulcers!) Alfalfa can increase saliva’s buffering potential, because of its high calcium content. This is the "gold standard" for ulcer treatment in humans and promises to be a cure for ulcers in horses. The horses were examined internally with an endoscope at the beginning and end of two 28-day trials. Providing good-quality alfalfa or alfalfa-mix forage can help buffer stomach contents and reduce gastric acidity. However, recent research has highlighted several factors that can greatly impact the efficacy (effectiveness) of this medication. High protein, low calcium sources like alfalfa hay may be preferable to brome grass hay. And sometimes, it helps. This will increase the frequency of feeding and amount of time with hay in the stomach. A study looking at feed type on gastric ulcer formation showed an increased risk of gastric ulcers in young growing horses consuming high grain diets as compared to a forage diet. Each section of the glandular portion of the stomach contains cells that secrete mucus and glands that produce acid; each function is determined by different stimuli.1, In simple terms, a gastric ulcer is an injury to the mucosal lining of the stomach. In addition to the feeding regime and exercise, other factors that can influence the formation of ulcers are transportation, frequent competitions and unfamiliar surroundings. To decrease the risk of developing ulcers, horses in stalls should have access to free-choice hay and water all day long. Ultimately, prevention of gastric ulcers in horses is key. Improving those conditions can help minimize ulcers. A horse that is allowed to live like a horse will constantly trickle feed and exhibit his natural feeding behavior, which is foraging and frequent chewing. Proton pump inhibitors work by irreversibly impairing the proton pumps that secrete hydrochloric acid. This, therefore, reduces the buffering capacity of the saliva. Gastric ulcers can occur at any location in the equine stomach; however, the severity and frequency of ulceration can be increased in certain locations within the stomach. Improving those conditions can help minimize ulcers. Horses that get 6-10 hours a day of turnout can lower their risk of ulcer recurrence. Efficacy of omeprazole paste for prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses in race training. In exercising horses, grain intake should be limited to a maximum of 0.5kg per 100kg bodyweight per day. A horse’s stomach is split into two parts--the non-glandular part which immediately follows the esophagus, and the glandular part, which secretes enzymes like pepsin and hydrochloric acid. Aside from the direct effects of exercise that contribute to ulcer formations, the diet of a performance horse can also lead to ulcers. This review provides some of the current findings relating to the cause and management to avoid gastric ulcers in exercising horses. Feeding hay first, then grain, leads to an optimal mixture of gastric content and helps prevent ulceration 5. That aside, good quality fibre. But what can we do to help manage ulcers and keep our horses and ponies happy? Work with your doctor on a plan of action for the kind of ulcer you have. If a horse does not have access to pasture or is housed in a stall, special consideration should be given to the ratio of feed the horse receives. Exercise in horses can also lead to an increased prevalence of ulcers, which is often noted by poor performance (Nieto et al., 2009). Exercising horses on a close to empty stomach (as would be the case in horses exercised after an overnight fast) makes it is easy for the acidic contents of the stomach to be pushed up into the squamous upper region of the stomach where it can cause ulceration. Lower Exercise – If a horse is over-exercised, not only may the animal be under ulcer-producing stress, but the contractions of the stomach will splash acid higher into the digestive tract and could create more ulcers. Thirty minutes before the exercise, feed him small amounts of alfalfa hay or 500 grams of alfalfa chaff. Doing so enables veterinary healthcare team members to compare a patient’s improvement or regression over time so that treatment can be better individualized. Chapter 32. Many factors contribute to ulcers such as stress, medications and exercise.