All about Equine Gastric Ulcers - Cause Symptoms and Treatment

1. All about Equine Gastric Ulcers | Cause, Symptoms and Treatment What is Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)? A horse’s stomach is divided into two sections: the upper section known as the squamous mucosa (non-glandular) and the lower known as the glandular mucosa. These two separate sections different versions of the same disease. Squamous portion contains less acidic contents (usually pH 5-7), but digestive stomach juices sometimes do not live here. However, the glandular portion contains digestive stomach juices. have different functions and are therefore affected by What are the causes of gastric ulcers?

2. Gastric ulcers can be caused for various reasons. The following are some of the risk factors:   Diets with a low forage/roughage content and a high concentration of nutrients. Intense/increased levels of activity — anything over trotting qualifies as intense exercise. Stress levels that are elevated as a result of regular transportation, changes in management or housing, competition, isolation from companions, and other factors. Concurrent illness or immobility. There were prolonged bouts of starvation/lack of access to forage throughout the day. Water scarcity.     What are the symptoms of gastric ulceration? Poor performance, repeated low-grade colic, loss of appetite, weight loss, dullness, and behavioral changes such as hostility when grooming or tacking up are all symptoms of EGUS. The following signs are present, however, they are ambiguous and inconsistent.       Appetite fluctuation Slow down of eating. Loss of weight Hair coat and bodily condition are both poor. Colic, whether acute or recurrent Ineffective performance How are ulcers diagnosed? A gastroscopic examination is the "gold standard" for diagnosing stomach ulcers. Under anesthesia, a thin video-endoscope (fibre-optic camera) is sent into the stomach to visualize the stomach lining and assess any ulcers that may or may not exist. Most horses/ponies tolerate this procedure well because it is minimally invasive. Best ulcer treatment for horses varies based on the location of the ulcer, hence trial treatment is not usually indicated. If treatment is administered blindly and is ineffective, the true cause of the problem is not addressed. The endoscopic inspection takes 5-15 minutes, after which the horse eats for 15 minutes and is ridden 2 hours later.

3. What are the methods for horse ulcer treatment? Omeprazole is used to treat EGUS. If glandular ulcers are present, omeprazole and sucralfate or Misoprostol may be prescribed as part of the therapy plan. To preserve the muc osa and promote the recovery of the waterproof gel barrier, medication is also required. Some of the best ulcer medication for horses are -    Sucralfate Misoprostol Sucralfate with Omeprazole Ulcers can be healed, although they often necessitate long-term treatment and maintenance. Preventive management for affected or at-risk horses  Feeding management: the goal of feeding management is to improve gastro-intestinal function while reducing the negative consequences of excess acid and its production. Increasing pasture turnout with concurrent access to roughage/forage is a suggested feeding plan for a horse with, or at risk of, stomach ulcers. Providing ad libitum, high-quality hay or haylage, rather than straw as the only source of fodder. Supplementing with oil can reduce acid generation by up to 30%. Daily consumption of 45-100ml of corn or rapeseed oil is recommended. By lowering the acidity of the stomach acid, a fermented probiotic can aid in the prevention of squamous ulcers.   