Up to 90 percent of performance horses and up to 50 percent of foals develop ulcers. Even with successful treatment, odds are that the ulcers will reoccur, sometimes repeatedly, according to Frank M. Andrews, DVM, professor and director of the Equine Health Studies program at Louisiana State University. He reminds readers that horses produce gastric acid throughout the day with or without food intake. Not being able to graze contributes greatly to ulcer formation.
Source: Modern Equine Veterinarian, April 2018.
“We know that acid secretion is the triggering device, but beyond that, there’s a widely diverse group of risk factors with no single factor isolated as causing the problem. It’s no wonder that we continue to seek ways to tackle equine gastric ulcer syndrome [EGUS],” Dr Andrews said.
In addition to steady acid secretion, grazing time and high-grain diets, other major risk factors include:
- Environmental stress
- Physical stress
- Medical issues
INSIGHTS: Use this article to review equine ulcers with clinic staff members and as a resource when working with horse owners.