5 Signs Your Horse Might be Suffering from Gastric Ulcers

Gastric ulcers are the bane of horse owner’s lives. Not only are they particularly uncomfortable for the horse, but they can be very tricky to get on top of and manage in the future. Unfortunately, they are something that affects between 50-90% of horses and are particularly prevalent in competition horses.

 If you’ve noticed your horse hasn’t been feeling quite themselves, or they’re throwing a bit more attitude at your under saddle, then there’s a chance they might be suffering from ulcers. If you think about how uncomfortable and grouchy tummy pain can make us humans, it’s no wonder that horses have a tendency to lash out or change their behaviour when they’re dealing with ulcers. If you aren’t sure if your horse has developed ulcers, keep reading to find out a few tell-tale signs to look out for…

What are gastric ulcers in horses?

Gastric ulcers are, as you might imagine, ulcers that form inside a horse’s tummy. There are two different types of gastric ulcers, squamous and glandular. Squamous ulcers are ulcers that form in the top third of the horse’s stomach and typically form due to stomach acid splashing the top of the stomach. This area of the horse’s stomach isn’t protected by food or mucus lining the stomach walls, so when horses are active, acid can splash up and cause ulcers to form on the lining of the stomach wall. Glandular ulcers affect the bottom two-thirds of the stomach and occurs when the mucus coat in the bottom of the stomach fails to protect the tissue from stomach acid.

What causes gastric ulcers?

There are lots of different things that can trigger stomach ulcers to form, and there’s a lot of debate and controversy around the correct management of horses to avoid them. As ulcers are so prominent in competition horses, it is arguable that stress has a significant part to play in causing ulcers. With the constant travelling, high-pressure situations, and rigorous activity, competition horses are generally more prone to developing glandular ulcers than those who live a sedate life in the field.

 A poor feeding routine can also contribute to the development of stomach ulcers, particularly squamous ulcers. Horses would typically graze for approximately 18 hours in their natural habitat, but due to domestication, they now have set feeding times which work around their owner’s schedule. When horses’ stomachs are left empty the stomach acid inside their tummies is not absorbed and can splash around causing damage to the lining on the top of the stomach. When horses are exercised on an empty stomach, they are much more at risk of developing ulcers as there is nothing in the bottom of their tummies to soak up the acid, so when they’re moving around and performing under saddle the chance of that acid swirling around and causing discomfort is much higher.

Horses fed a diet with a high starch content are also much more at risk of developing squamous ulcers. As the starch is broken down during fermentation, it produces volatile fatty acids (VFA) which mixes with the stomach acid and become nonionised. Whilst VFA’s are present in the hindgut and actually beneficial to the horse, when they are present inside the stomach, they can be potentially harmful to the stomach lining. In their nonionised state, they can infiltrate the epithelial cells causing them to become inflamed and develop ulcers.

Whilst these are the main causes of stomach ulcers in horses, there are tonnes of other reasons why your horse might have developed them. Some horses are naturally more predisposed to developing them than others, so don’t beat yourself up if your horse has developed them!

How to spot gastric ulcers

As you’ve probably guessed, gastric ulcers are incredibly painful, and they will likely present some behaviour changes to let you know they are in pain. It can be quite hard to pinpoint the route of the discomfort when there is no obvious ailment, but stomach ulcers are often a good call. If you suspect your horse is suffering from stomach ulcers, it’s probably a good time to call your vet and get them out to do a gastric scope.

        Change in appetite

Like us when we have a sore tummy, eating and drinking isn’t always something we want to do. Horses suffering from ulcers might become picky and start refusing their hard feeds. Hard feeds can cause aggravation to the stomach, so you might find your horse stops eating their hard feeds altogether or become picky with what they’re fed, even if they used to enjoy it before. Horses with ulcers will tend to gravitate towards hay and forage over nuts or grain, so make sure an ample amount of hay, haylage, or forage is available for them at all times.

            Change in attitude

Because horses can’t tell us when they’re sore, they tend to express their discomfort in their behaviour and let us know. Horses that are suffering from ulcers may become grouchy in the stable or when tacking up. If you’ve noticed your horse has become girthy or angry when doing up their rugs, this is a good indicator that they’re not feeling 100% inside.

            Reluctance to work

If your horse has started to show some behaviour changes under saddle, this is another good indicator that they’re not feeling their best. Horses with ulcers may stop going forwards or become fussy when you apply more leg. It might also present itself in more extreme ways like bolting or refusing at fences. If you know your horse well or have had it for a while with no problems, then these behaviour changes will be like a big arrow pointing towards something being a bit off.

            Poor coat

A dull, lifeless coat is often a good indicator that your horse might be feeling a little under the weather. When people aren’t feeling well, their complexion can become grey or pale- and it’s much the same for horses. Their coats will look dull and grey, with no shine. In most cases, whatever is going on on the inside will be reflected on the outside. So when you’re shampooing like your life depends on it but they aren’t coming up any brighter this might be another tell that they’re struggling with something internally. A dull coat doesn’t necessarily mean stomach ulcers though, so keep an eye on your horse and see if any other symptoms present themselves. If you’re worried it’s a virus or anything more sinister, take their temperature and possibly get your vet out to give them a once over.

            Loss of condition

If your horse’s appetite hasn’t changed and they’re eating what they normally do but they’re still dropping weight and condition, then this can be another symptom of ulcers. When they’re feeling poorly, weight loss can occur due to increased metabolic rate due to chronic or low-grade pain. When this happens, simply upping their feed intake could do more harm than good and exacerbate pre-existing gastric ulcers. A course of treatment for gastric ulcers, prescribed by your vet, will help to alleviate the discomfort and heal the ulcers and in time the weight and condition will return.

So, that’s the low down on gastric ulcers! They can be pretty nasty and can cause some pretty noticeable behaviour changes in your horse. If you’ve been picking up on a few new quirks or thought your horse hasn’t felt quite like they normally do, then it could be a case of ulcers. Getting your vet out to do a gastroscope sooner rather than later gives you the best chance of getting on top of them before they get super nasty. And the good news is, they’re pretty easy to treat- your vet will be able to tell you the best course of treatment. Your horse will be back and feeling themselves in no time.

With love,
Px

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