TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

Today on the program we are going to talk about a common problem in performance horses in some situations and that is stomach ulcers.  In fact, Dr. Ben Buchanan from Navasota, Texas, indicates in a publication of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association that in some situations up to 90% of performance horses have ulcers.  There are two portions of the equine stomach; one portion is protected from ulceration but the other portion is not.  In horses who are resting, the unprotected portion of the stomach rarely is affected by stomach acid; but when the horse exercises, abdominal pressure decreases the stomach size and more of the unprotected portion of the stomach is exposed to acid so ulcers develop.  Intermittent feeding also causes the pH of the stomach to decrease and increases the chance of ulcers. That’s why it is better to have horses out in the pasture grazing than in a stall. 

Also, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs can decrease the protection of the stomach, which is why you should only give phenylbutazone (bute) or banamine at the dosage and for the length of time prescribed by your veterinarian.  Common symptoms of stomach ulcers include intermittent colic, decreased appetite, poor performance, and stretching out to urinate.  Diagnosis of ulcers requires an endoscope to be placed in the stomach to visualize the ulcers, and there is a new blood test that is apparently accurate.  Although there are numerous products available in the horse magazines claiming to treat and prevent stomach ulcers, only Gastrogard is actually FDA-approved for this purpose and can be used once daily for the condition.     

Hear the audio of this program at the Texas Farm Bureau Network.

Date Published: 9/8/2009 10:23:00 AM