The hidden health threat

 

May is Gastric Ulcer Awareness Month, an initiative organised by Merial Animal Health and supported by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and aimed at helping horse owners to more easily recognise the signs of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. We take a look at this distressing but surprisingly common, condition.

 

What is Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome?

 

Essentially, Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is the term given to the development of ulcers in the lining of the horse’s stomach. All parts of the stomach can be affected, although it more commonly found in the upper part of the lining, the squamous mucosa. The predominant cause of EGUS is prolonged exposure to acid, which erodes the lining of the horse’s stomach.

 

The severity of the condition can range from an inflamed but intact stomach lining to widespread erosion and bleeding, to, in the most serious cases, perforation of the stomach, which can often be fatal. Horses suffering from EGUS can be graded from 0 to 4 in severity, with 4 denoting extensive, deep areas of ulceration.

 

Which horses are at risk?

 

Any type of horse – studies have found that up to 37% of leisure horses, 63% of performance horses and 93% of racehorses might be suffering with EGUS. Foals are particularly at risk, with around half of all foals developing stomach ulcers, and they are mich more likely to die from this condition.

 

Factors that increase the likelihood of a horse developing EGUS include inappropriate diet (lack of the ability to trickle feed, lack of fibre and/or excess amounts of concentrate feed); intensive exercise; psychological stress and certain long-term medications.

 

What are the symptoms?

 

Gastric ulcers can be difficult for horse owners to pinpoint, but symptoms to look out for include poor appetite, weight loss, reduced performance, poor condition and dull coat, behavioural changes and mild or recurrent colic. Foals may also exhibit teeth grinding, excess salivation and excessive lying down, as well as infrequent nursing and diarrhoea.

 

Only a qualified vet may diagnose EGUS officially. This process involves an endoscopy under mild sedation, whereby a thin optical cable is passed into the horse’s stomach to check for ulceration. The horse must be fasted for six to 12 hours, and not allowed water for two to three hours, so that the stomach is empty beforehand.

 

What is the treatment?

 

Veterinary treatment is usually very simple and effective, and ulcers should heal within two or three weeks. Treatment involves eliminating the clinical symptoms and promoting an environment in which ulcers can heal, using medication to decrease acidity levels in the stomach. GastroGard, which contains omeprazole, is often used to treat gastric ulcers and prevent reoccurrence, and can be used foals as young as four weeks old. It is currently the only licensed treatment for equine gastric ulcers in the UK.

 

However, prevention is always better than cure, so horse owners should be encouraged to do all they can to ensure they reduce the potential for gastric ulcers to develop.

 

How can gastric ulcers be prevented?

 

Making simple changes to your horse’s management can noticeably decrease the risk of EGUS developing. This includes dietary changes such as allowing ad-lib access to grass or forage; feeding more frequently to help buffer the acid in the stomach; prolonging feeding time (as greater chew time produces more saliva, which is the stomach’s main protection against gastric acid); reducing the amount of high carbohydrate feeds provided and increasing fibre intake, and environmental factors such as allowing horses access to other animals to reduce their stress levels (a stable mirror can help).

 

There are also a number of supplement products designed to protective the lining of the stomach and help balance gut acidity. Antacids can be used to help restore the gut to a kinder pH and protect the stomach lining from irritation. Types of equine antacids include aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate. These are sometimes used in conjunction with kaolin powder, a type of white clay, which buffers stomach acid and forms a protective coating on the lining of the horse’s stomach.

 

Other useful ingredients to include within the diet are anti-oxidants, B vitamins and Yea-sacc. Probiotics and prebiotics may also help keep the digestive system healthy and prevent the likelihood of ulcers occurring, by re-establishing levels the beneficial bacteria within the gut and aiding digestive efficiency and immunity.

 

To find out more about Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome, visit www.equinegastriculcers.co.uk. Here you can conduct an online assessment to determine the potential risk to your horse, as well as obtaining more information about the condition.

 

Image courtesy of Henry Tremaine and the University of Bristol.

 

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