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Recognize this: your show jumper suddenly refuses for obstacles that he previously took effortlessly. Your dressage horse lacks sharpness in training. Or your recreational horse just seems … not quite himself.
The cause? Probably not what you think! Many owners attribute the above to the weather, the wrong bit or other external factors. But what they fail to see is that their horse may be in pain inside.
Stomach ulcers in horses, also called egus (equine gastric ulcer syndrome), are more common than we sometimes think. Up to 90% of horses in active training suffer from it, but a recreational horse is equally at risk. And the worst part? Most owners don’t even realize their horse is suffering from it.
We also have good news: nutrition is your most powerful weapon. Instead of relying solely on medication, with the right nutritional strategy you can prevent stomach ulcers as well as support your horse in healing when stomach ulcers are already present. In this blog, describe what stomach ulcers are, how they occur and what the most common causes are. In part 2 of this blog, we share practical tips and schemes that know how to help with prevention and recovery.
Stomach ulcers are erosions and ulcerations (inflammations) in your horse’s stomach wall. They are basically small open wounds caused by aggressive stomach acid that has compromised the protective layer in the stomach.
Before we delve deeper into stomach ulcers, it is good to know how your horse’s stomach is put together. The stomach is a relatively small organ. In a 600-kg horse, the stomach is about the size of a basketball. And the stomach is divided into two parts. The upper part is called the squamous part of the stomach. This is where the food enters together with the saliva.
The lower part of the stomach is called the glandular part. In this part of the stomach, stomach acid and other digestive juices are produced, which help digest food and kill disease processors. The acid produced here is so acidic that it can normally attack mucous membranes. However, this part of the stomach naturally has a protective layer of mucus, which prevents the acid from attacking the stomach wall.
Egus is actually an umbrella term for different forms of stomach damage. The two main variants are:
These are ulcerations in the upper, vulnerable part of the stomach. This is the most common form of gastric ulcers and is often caused by long periods without nutrition and insufficient saliva. As mentioned, the mucous membrane in the upper part of the stomach is poorly able to withstand gastric acid and is therefore vulnerable. This is therefore where most stomach ulcers occur.
In EGGD, stomach ulcers develop in the lower part of the stomach. This form is increasingly recognized and is often more severe. It is more difficult to treat than ESGD, particularly because this part of the stomach is continuously exposed to stomach acid.
Stomach ulcers range from small and superficial to large and multiple. Some horses have no symptoms at all, while others suffer tremendously. But, with the right approach, many horses heal completely and, as an owner, you prevent further problems.
Here comes the interesting part: stomach ulcers don’t happen out of nowhere. They are often the result of how we feed and manage our horses. And that means you can often prevent them.
Horses are grazers. They are made to continuously pass small amounts of food through their gastrointestinal tract. Their stomach produces acid constantly. So not like humans only when they eat. On top of that, horses only produce saliva when they chew. Saliva helps neutralize stomach acid.
But what do we do in many cases? We feed our horses a large meal twice a day. Between those feedings, the stomach is empty, but the acid continues to produce and our horses barely produce saliva during that time. The acid in the stomach then attacks the stomach wall.
Grain is high in energy: perfect for a working horse. But grain is also problematic. This is because when horses eat grain, they chew less intensely than they do with hay. Less chewing means less saliva.
And saliva? That’s the
In addition, grains can begin to ferment in the gut, releasing gas and acid. The healthy bacteria get along poorly in this acidic environment and other less healthy bacteria actually start to grow, disrupting healthy digestion.
This is not to say that your horse cannot digest grains, but always feed them as needed and never more than their small intestine can digest.
Roughage is not just nutrition. Too little forage and too much starchy feed reduces chewing time and increases the risk of a worse microbiome. The benefits of adequate forage are:
Stress also plays a role, for example, from:
Stress increases acid production and disrupts the gut microbiome. This significantly worsens stomach problems.
First of all, the only way to diagnose stomach ulcers 100% is through a gastroscopy. Through the mouth and esophagus, the veterinarian then inserts a camera into the stomach and then views the stomach and possibly intestinal wall. This is a very invasive examination, so it also happens that when veterinarian has a strong suspicion of stomach ulcers, treatment is started without this examination.
But when do you think of stomach ulcers? Your horse may show several things in behavior and eating patterns that could be the cause of stomach ulcers.
Your horse just seems… Not himself. Less enthusiasm, less energy. This could be a sign of pain.
Your horse is irritable? Unwilling to cooperate? Some horses even become aggressive when you touch their flank or when you buckle them up (girthiness). This could be a sign of stomach pain.
Your horse is eating less than normal or refusing certain feed products. This is a classic red flag.
Some horses begin to refuse grain or concentrates: they have literally learned that it causes pain.
Your horse takes longer than usual to eat a portion, or leaves a lot lying around.
Sometimes horses will eat sand in the paddock or bite down on wood. In doing so, they stimulate saliva production and put material back into the stomach that helps buffer stomach acid a bit.
Manger biting, the biting on stable wall or feed trough sometimes combined with air sucking, can be an indication that your horse has stomach trouble.
Not all symptoms by themselves indicate stomach ulcers, but if your horse shows several of these signs, we recommend contacting your veterinarian. They may perform a gastroscopy for a definitive diagnosis or decide with you to begin treatment.
Severe abdominal cramps is always cause for immediate veterinary care.
Stomach ulcers are a difficult problem both for you and your horse. Fortunately, they are often treatable. On top of that, each horse is unique. Putting together the right ration for your horse can be quite a challenge. That’s why we like to think with you and give free feed advice to anyone who wants it. So.
Do you have questions about your horse’s nutrition or want personal advice on which feed is best for your situation? Our team is ready to help you. Feel free to contact us!
Because a horse with a healthy stomach, is a horse that can flourish.
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