Horse Ulcers

Horse Ulcer medical terms: Bruxism, Colon, Duodenum, Endoscope, Gastric ulcers, Peritonitis, Pharynx, Squamous cells, Vagus nerve

What are Ulcers in Horses? Horse u lcers are nonhealing sores. These sores can develop outside the body in skin and inside the body in the lining of the stomach and intestines (colon). Ulcers in horses mostly occur in the stomach (gastric ulcers). The horse stomach is different from the human stomach. The horse stomach has two sections, an upper section lined with squamous cells that does not have a thick mucous coat, and a lower glandular-secreting section that is lined by mucus. Most gastric ulcers occur in the upper nonglandular section because it is not protected

Ulcers affect horses by causing pain and poor performance. Ulcers can be an irritating illness—or they can be fatal if they erode through the stomach or colon and cause bleeding and peritonitis.

Which Horses Develop Ulcers?

According to Dr. Michael Murray in the Equine Veterinary Journal, about 60% of foals and 60% of performance horses have ulcers. (Other equine veterinarians believe the number of foals with ulcers reaches 90%.) Performance horses include event and dressage horses, and horses transported to trials or shows. Veterinarians who examined the stomachs of racehorses and weanlings confirmed that over 90% of racehorses and over 90% of stalled weanlings have ulcers. Stallions kept in the vicinity of females, including colts kept in the vicinity of their mothers, develop ulcers. Horses housed at home but undergoing training are also prone to ulcers.

It takes about 5 days for stressed horses to develop ulcers. This includes horses hauled to shows, horses housed in stalls they are unfamiliar with, and horses fed twice a day rather than allowed to graze throughout the day.

Stress and Horse Ulcers:

Because horses evolved with a nervous system that is highly responsive to stress, they are exceptionally sensitive to the stress hormone, cortisol. It’s the interaction of cortisol with the vagus nerve, which controls digestion, that causes ulcers. Circumstances that contribute to ulcer development are those that increase cortisol: shipping, performing, changing diets, and changing schedules. Thus, horses in training who are shipped to events are prone to ulcers even though they enjoy performing and may appear unstressed.

High carbohydrate diets and Horse Ulcers:

High carbohydrate diets can predispose horses to ulcers and to acid reflux. Carbohydrates release volatile fatty acids that enter stomach cells and encourage ulcer development.

Being fed twice a day rather than grazing and Horse Ulcers:

Horses that are fed twice a day rather than allowed to graze on pasture are prone to ulcers. This is because grazing 8-16 hours a day stimulates constant saliva flow. Saliva has a basic pH and is the opposite of the stomach acidic pH. A constant flow of saliva neutralizes stomach acid. Horses evolved eating almost continuously, so their stomachs evolved to release acid steadily during the day. When horses are fed only twice a day, gastric acids are produced continuously, but there is insufficient saliva to buffer the stomach contents and keep the lining of the stomach ulcer free.

Physical activity and Horse Ulcers:

Horses undergoing physical activity, such as racing, may develop ulcers because exercise causes abdominal muscles to contract. Abdominal contractions force bile and acidic contents from the intestine back into the stomach where they irritate the stomach lining and cause ulcers.

The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians   Date Category Topic 06/25/06  Eye Care  DISCHARGE 06/24/06  Eye Care  PUG 06/21/06  Skin Care  OOZING HIND PAW WOUNDS 06/20/06  Bone & Joint Care  ARTHRITIS/BONE CANCER 05/27/06  Ear Care  SWOLLEN 05/24/06  Antibiotics/Anti-Infectives  ULCER ON ROOF OF MOUTH 05/23/06  Eye Care  SORES CAUSED BY FLIES & GNATS 05/22/06  Other  MY 11 MO OLD YORKIE DIED A WEEK AGO 05/19/06  Allergy  INSISANT CHEWING OF FEET 05/18/06  Eye Care  RED,CLOUDY DRAINAGE 04/20/06  Eye Care  SCRATCHED EYE 04/19/06  Pain/Inflammation  UNABLE TO MOVE BACK LEGS ON HIS OWN 03/25/06  Eye Care  INFLAMMED EYES 03/13/06  Urinary Tract/Kidneys  VOMITING BLOOD 02/26/06  Eye Care  EYE IS CLOSED, LITTLE BIT OF DISCHARGE 1 2 3 4 »»

 

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