Stomach Ulcers in Horses: Symptoms, Diagnosing and Treating

Stomach Ulcers in Horses: Symptoms, Diagnosing and Treating

Is your horse trying to tell you something? The signs of ulcers in horses may be more subtle than you think.

sorrel horse in show headstall looking at camera (Credit: Victoria Delarosa)

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From AQHA Corporate Partner Boehringer Ingelheim

Poor performance in competition?

Cranky when being cinched up?

Uncharacteristic general crabbiness? It could be your horse is trying to tell you something.

“It’s certainly possible for a trained horse to have a bad day, but as a general rule, they aren’t emotional beings like humans, so they tend to try to do their jobs,” says Sarah Reuss, VMD, DACVIM, Equine Technical Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim. “When horse owners notice uncharacteristic behavior, especially on an ongoing basis, it’s best to document those behaviors and consult with a veterinarian.”

Symptoms of Gastric Ulcers in Horses

What might surprise horse owners is that equine stomach ulcers can be a potential root cause of difficult training sessions, resistance to work and poor performance.1,2 These ulcers can develop in as few as five days,3 so it’s possible that Saturday’s well-behaved horse can become a different animal by Wednesday. Other potential clinical signs of equine stomach ulcers include poor appetite, poor body condition, rough hair coat, weight loss and in some cases, low-level colic.4

Diagnosing Equine Stomach Ulcers

Equine stomach ulcers can only be definitively diagnosed by conducting a gastroscopy.5 During this procedure, a veterinarian uses an endoscope – a tube with a small camera – and places it up the nose, through the esophagus and into the stomach in the standing, sedated horse. The procedure allows the veterinarian to explore the stomach and if there are any ulcers, describe where they are and how severe they appear. The veterinarian will be looking for any thickening, reddening, erosions or ulcerations of the stomach.

 

Grade 3 ulcer in 10-year-old barrel horse

Grade 3 ulcer in 7-year-old cutter

Stomach ulcers in 17-year-old roping gelding

 

There are two types of gastric ulcers, Dr. Reuss explains. “Squamous ulcers are the most common, and are found in the upper part of the stomach where they form when stomach acid contacts the unprotected lining. The other type of ulcers are found in the glandular area which includes the pylorus or outflow of the stomach. These glandular ulcers are due to a combination of acid and loss of normal protective mechanisms.”

Treating a Horse’s Stomach Ulcer

Should the veterinarian discover ulcers, he or she will recommend treatment with GastroGard® (omeprazole), the only proven and FDA-approved ulcer treatment product. Ideally there should be another gastroscopy performed at the end of treatment to ensure the stomach is back to normal.

There are ways to potentially avoid ulcers from recurring. Dr. Reuss recommends continuing to consult with the veterinarian who knows your specific horse, but in general providing continuous access to roughage through grazing or hay nets and feeding grain in multiple small meals daily is best.

In horses that are subject to stressors such as training, showing, trailering, including to trail riding, the loss of a pasture buddy or a move to another barn, Dr. Reuss recommends asking the veterinarian about using UlcerGard® (omeprazole) to help prevent ulcers from occurring, particularly during times of stress.

For more information, go to https://bi-animalhealth.com/equine/gastric-health.

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GASTROGARD IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: The safety of GASTROGARD paste has not been determined in pregnant or lactating mares. For use in horses and foals 4 weeks of age and older. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. In case of ingestion, contact a physician. Caution: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

ULCERGARD IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 lbs. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. In case of ingestion, contact a physician.

1Mitchell RD. Prevalence of gastric ulcers in hunter/jumper and dressage horses evaluated for poor performance. Association for Equine Sports Medicine, September 2001.

2Equine Gastric Ulcer Council. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatmentof Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS). Equine Vet Educ. 1999;11:262-272.

3McClure SR, Carithers DS, Gross SJ, Murray MJ. Gastric ulcer development in horses in a simulated show or training environment. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2005;227(5):775-777.

4Andrews FM, Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Available at: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-gastric-ulcer-syndrome. Accessed April 25, 2022.

5McClure S. AAEP Equine Gastric Ulcers: Special Care and Nutrition. Available at: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-gastric-ulcers-special-care-and-nutrition# Accessed April 25, 2022.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA 

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is working on first-in-class innovation for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of diseases in animals. For veterinarians, pet owners, producers, and governments in more than 150 countries, we offer a large and innovative portfolio of products and services to improve the health and well-being of companion animals and livestock. 

As a global leader in the animal health industry and as part of the family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim, we take a long-term perspective. The lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. By using the synergies between our Animal Health and Human Pharma businesses and by delivering value through innovation, we enhance the health and well-being of both.  

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has deep roots in the U.S. From a start in St. Joseph, Missouri, more than 100 years ago, it has grown to encompass seven sites. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s portfolio contains widely used and well-respected vaccines, parasite-control products and therapeutics for pets, horses and livestock including NexGard®, Heartgard®, Pyramid® + Presponse®, VAXXITEK®, CircoFLEX® and Prascend®. 

Learn more about Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA at https://bi-animalhealth.com/.

ULCERGARD® and GASTROGARD® are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. Ó2022 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. US-EQU-0127-2022