Gastric ulcers in horses

Since 1999 we have gastroscoped thousands of horse in Australia and demonstrated that the prevalence of gastric stomach ulcers in Thoroughbred horses in training is around 90%. Ulcers usually occur in the non-glandular mucosa of the stomach, which lacks adequate protection against the harmful effect of stomach acids.

Many studies since the mid 1980's have documented that gastric ulcers are common in racehorses. An early post-mortem study in Hong Kong of 195 Thoroughbred racehorses showed that 80% of the horses in active training had ulcers.

What type of horses are affected most? Racehorses are the horses most often affected by gastric ulcers with an ulcer prevalence between 63 and 90%. In contrast, a much lower prevalence (37%) of stomach ulcers is seen in pleasure horses and the degree of ulceration is less severe. Several endoscopic surveys have indicated that the frequency of gastric ulceration in Thoroughbreds in training is fairly high. Ulcers appear to be chronically progressive during training, but to regress during retirement.

What are the symptoms of gastric ulcers? Clinical signs that typically are associated with gastric ulceration include recurrent colic for seven or more days, acute colic, poor body condition, and/or chronic diarrhoea, poor appetite, and weight loss. Often symptoms are less obvious, such as poor performance, or not even noticeable.

Another reason horses in performance training are more susceptible to ulcers is that intense exercise also increases the production of gastric acid. The combination of intense training, high concentrate rations, small amounts of hay, and stalling all add up to causing the ulcers. If ulcers develop, the most common treatments in horses involve decreasing acid production. One type of drug that decreases acid production is called an h2 blocker, as this drug blocks histamine stimulated gastric acid production. Examples of this histamine blocker is Ulcerguard, manufactured by Ranvet.

A surprising number of ulcers have also been discovered in other performance horses (up to 60%) such as those involved in eventing, showing and western competition. In performance horses, there is an association between ulceration and nervousness, but it is unclear whether this is a cause or effect. Ulcers have been long recognized as a problem in foals, particularly those that are sick for some other reason. It is predicted that most domesticated horses will have ulcers at some point in their lives. This condition may not cause any observable problems in some horses but ulcers can also be both painful and costly. However it is something that can be helped, and possibly even eliminated in some horses with proper management.

The clinical signs of stomach ulcers also known as Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) include, but may not be limited to:

Weight Loss
Altered Eating Behaviour
Recurrent Colic
Change in Attitude
Sub-optimal Performance
Diarrhoea
Dull Coat

If your horse experiences stress due to changes in routine, diet, and exercise regimens that come with confinement, training, travel and competition; ask your veterinarian about proactive ulcer prevention with Ulcerguard™ before treatment is ever warranted.

Stomach ulcers can be painful, yet some horses show very few symptoms. Others will lose weight, have recurrent colic, intermittent loose stools, poor hair coat, poor body condition, changes in disposition and/or general poor performance. Once daily administration of Ulcerguard is recommended in horses exposed to stressful conditions or activities that may induce stomach ulcers in horses. Such conditions may include training, racing, showing, travelling, stall confinement, and competition.

The research conducted by Ranvet in conjunction with Randwick Equine Centre was the subject of a programme on the ABC.

Transcript of the programme here.

The treatment referred to is Ulcerguard.

Another reference point is here at Racing NSW.