Ulcers. It’s a diagnosis that horse owners dread. But what exactly are ulcers, and why do they form? Here’s what you need to know about ulcers in your horse.

What Ulcers Are

Ulcers, more specifically gastric ulcers, are a common occurrence in performance horse. Ulcers are lesions which can form in the lining of a horse’s stomach, and are caused by an overabundance of stomach acid. Ulcers can form for a variety of reasons. Horses who don’t get enough roughage in their diets, or who go for hours in between meals, may be prone to ulcers because acid gets a chance to build up in their stomachs. Horses under intense exercise or stress, such as racehorses, are generally at a higher risk for ulcers. Traveling and heavy training can bring about ulcers. Additionally, some medications like Bute can allow the stomach acid levels to rise, increasing the likelihood of ulcers.

Symptoms You May See

There are many symptoms that can indicate a horse has ulcers. Poor appetite and weight loss are common symptoms, along with recurring colic episodes. Many horses with ulcers perform poorly under saddle, and they may develop a sour attitude. Horses with ulcers may react strongly to their girth being tightened and may also buck under saddle.

Diagnosing Ulcers

To diagnose ulcers, your vet will perform an endoscopy in which he inserts a scope into your horse’s stomach. The scope allows the vet to see any ulcers present, and to get a sense of their severity. Some horse owners opt to move ahead and treat a horse based on symptoms. If the symptoms resolve themselves with treatment, then it can generally be decided that the horse had ulcers.

Treating Ulcers

There are many medications which are used to treat ulcers in horses; Omeprazole is the most common and is generally given during a period of at least a month. Treating ulcers takes time, and the horse’s stomach needs to be given a chance to restore its natural acid balance. Diet changes and probiotics may be in order long-term to help prevent the future occurrence of ulcers.

Preventing Ulcers

To prevent ulcers in your horse, make sure that he has a diet which is high in forage. Try to keep forage in front of him as much as possible. Using a small hole hay net or other gradual horse feeder can keep your horse eating continuously, in a fashion that is similar to his natural grazing habits.

Minimizing stress in your horse is also important, so maximizing his turnout and keeping him on a regular schedule can help. Additionally, consider minimizing the amount of grain that your horse eats and potentially adding a probiotic or ulcer preventative into his diet.

Ulcers are expensive to treat, but the good news is that most horses can make a complete recovery from ulcers.

Original Source: What You Should Know About Ulcers in Horses