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Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Ulcers are a common medical condition in horses and foals. It is estimated that almost 50% of foals and 1/3 of adult horses confined in stalls may have mild ulcers. Up to 60% of show horses and 90% of racehorses may develop moderate to severe ulcers. Because they are so common, and can occur as a result of a number of factors, the condition is often called “equine gastric ulcer syndrome” (EGUS) or “equine gastric ulcer disease” (EGUD).

How the horse’s stomach works:
To understand why horses are prone to ulcers, it is helpful to know some horse anatomy. Holding only about 4 gallons, the horse’s stomach is small compared to humans. It is divided into two distinct parts. The non-glandular portion (also called the esophageal region) is lined by tissue similar to the lining of the esophagus. The glandular portion is lined with glandular tissue, which produces hydrochloric acid and pepsin, an enzyme needed for the digestion of food. This part of the digestive system also produces substances to protect the stomach from the effects of the acid and enzymes. In humans, eating stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid. In the horse, however, hydrochloric acid is constantly being produced. So, if a horse does not eat, the acid accumulates in the stomach, and can start to irritate the stomach, especially the non-glandular portion.

Causes of gastric ulcers in horses:
There are multiple factors that can increase the risk of ulcers in horses, including:

•Fasting (not eating) – Horses evolved to graze, eating many small meals frequently. This way, the stomach is rarely empty and the stomach acid has less of a damaging effect. If horses and foals do not eat frequently, the acid builds up and ulcers are more likely to develop.

•Type of feed – The type and amount of roughage play a role in ulcer development. Roughage, because it requires more chewing, stimulates the production of more saliva. The swallowed saliva helps to neutralize stomach acid. There is an increase in acid production when concentrates are fed. The type of roughage is also important. Alfalfa is higher in calcium, and it is thought that this may help decrease the risk of ulcers.

•Amount of exercise – As the amount of exercise increases, there is often a change in feeding (e.g., more times of fasting, less roughage), which increases the risk of ulcer development. In addition, exercise may increase the time it takes for the stomach to empty, so large amounts of acid can remain in an empty stomach for a prolonged period of time. Stress itself may decrease the amount of blood flow to the stomach, which makes the lining of the stomach more vulnerable to injury from stomach acid.

•Medications – Chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as phenylbutazone (Bute) and flunixin meglumine (Banamine) blocks the production of a particular chemical called PgE2. PgE2 decreases acid production, so when PgE2 levels are low, acid levels are high, contributing to the development of ulcers.

Signs of gastric ulcers in horses:

In foals, signs of gastric ulcers include:

•Intermittent colic, often after nursing or eating

•Poor appetite and nursing for only very short periods

•Teeth grinding

•Excessive salivation

•Diarrhea

•Lying on the back

In adult horses, signs of gastric ulcers include:

•Poor appetite

•Weight loss and poor body condition

•Poor hair coat

•Mild colic

•Mental dullness or attitude changes

•Poor performance

•Lying down more than normal

If a gastric ulcer is suspected, a veterinarian will use a combination of medical history, clinical signs, laboratory tests, and special examinations to make the diagnosis. Gastric ulcers can be life-threatening. If your horse or foal is showing signs of gastric ulcers, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Treatment of gastric ulcers in horses:
Medications and changes in management practices are the cornerstones of therapy for equine gastric ulcers. Different medications are used for three purposes: (1) to decrease acid production, (2) to buffer the acid that is produced, and (3) to protect the lining of the stomach from the effects of the acid.

•H2 blockers: These are medications that block the action of histamine. Histamine stimulates the production of stomach acid. Example: Cimetidine, ranitidine.

•Proton pump inhibitors: These are medications that inhibit the production of acid by the stomach

•Buffers: Antacids buffer the action of the stomach acid. Because acid is constantly being produced in the horse, antacids are effective for only a short time (less than an hour) and require large amounts be given. This makes them relatively impractical in the horse, though their use on the day of performance or a stressful event may be beneficial.

•Protectants: Certain drugs can block acid from coming into contact with the stomach lining. Unfortunately, these do not appear to be as effective in the esophageal portion of the stomach. Example: Sucralfate.
In addition to medications, changes in management are almost always necessary including:

•Increasing the amount of roughage in the diet.

•Increasing the number of feedings by increasing the amount of time the horse is actually eating. Putting the horse on pasture would be the best alternative.

•Avoiding or decreasing the amount of grain. Use supplements to add the vitamins and minerals, and vegetable oils to add the calories the horse may need.

•Giving probiotics to aid in digestion.

Many ulcers in foals heal without treatment. In adults, the clinical signs may improve within 1-2 days of starting treatment, but it takes far longer for the ulcer to actually heal. Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s treatment recommendations. If you stop the treatment earlier than your veterinarian suggests, the ulcer may not completely heal.

Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

10 Tips to Help Prevent Colic

Colic Prevention: Good Horse Digestive Health

It causes normally placid horses to pace and paw at the ground. The pain it brings drives horses to continually lie down and rise, swing their heads from side to side, or grow restless. It is also the number one killer of horses across the country and around the world.

What is this common, extremely painful, and potentially fatal abdominal condition? It is known as colic and chances are your horse is more susceptible to it than you may realize. However, there are simple ways to help promote good digestive health and help prevent colic in your horse.

Colic types:
Contrary to popular belief, colic is not a disease. Instead, it is a combination of symptoms that result from abdominal pain, intestinal displacement, or gastrointestinal obstruction. Basically, there are three types of colic:

Gas Colic – the most common form of colic, occurs when gas collects in your horse’s bowels and causes pain, and sometimes a distended bowel, as it passes. Horses with gas colic will often swing their heads from side to side, stomp their feet, pin back their ears, roll their eyes, and exhibit gassy stomach rumblings.

Obstructive Colic – this form of colic is often divided into two categories: impaction colic occurs when food masses, parasites, or other foreign bodies accumulate in the bowels and prohibit passage through the intestines; sand colic occurs when pasture sand or soil is ingested and accumulates in your horse’s gut. Both cause lethargy, restlessness, pawing, excessive sweating, and an absence of normal abdominal sounds.

Twisted Gut – this form of colic is caused by a physical twisting of your horse’s intestine. It causes extreme pain, excessive sweating, discomfort, progressive restlessness, and is non-responsive to simple pain relief medication.

Each type of colic is serious and potentially life-threatening, oftentimes within a matter of minutes. If your horse exhibits any signs of abdominal pain, contact your veterinarian immediately so he or she can assess the situation.

Colic causes
Horses have sensitive digestive systems. Therefore, any number of factors can cause colic in your horse, pony, or other equine. Although all horses are susceptible to colic, regardless of age, sex, or breed, some horses seem to be predisposed to colic due to digestive system anatomy or function. Regardless, the most common causes of colic include

– Bloodworms (strongyles) that damage blood vessels near the bowel
– Roundworms (ascarids) that accumulate and block intestines
– Sudden diet change that upsets stomach and digestive function
– Lack of drinking water that causes food to bind together, causing an impaction
– Horses that gulp food without chewing, which often results in impaction
– Ingestion of sand or dirt, which accumulates in the intestines

Colic prevention
Effective colic prevention relies on good digestive health. Use the following ten steps to maintain proper function of your horse’s digestive system and help prevent colic. However, any immediate change to your horses diet, exercise, or daily routine can also cause colic and, therefore, needs to be gradual.

– Feed a high quality, roughage-rich diet. Grass is best, followed by hay. Grass or hay should always be available. Feed smaller amounts of grain unless work demands or your veterinarian suggests more.

– Mimic natural grazing schedules by feeding two or three smaller portions of grain throughout the day, as opposed to one single feeding that overloads the digestive tract.

– Offer fresh, clean water at all times. Use Stock Tank Cleaners to keep troughs clean and free from insects. Hang a water bucket in your horse stall and fill it daily to encourage your horse to drink.

– Regularly deworm your horse with a suitable Ivermectin-based wormer. In addition, pyrantel-based continuous wormers may also help control internal parasites.

– Offer frequent, if not continual, pasture turnout. Daily exercise is very important. If necessary, build an electric horse fence to help contain your horse while he exercises and plays in the pasture.

– Use feed pans to lift feed away from sand and other contaminants but still mimic natural, heads-down grazing postures. Elevated wall feeders lift equine food even farther off the ground.

– Use manure forks and suitable buckets to muck stalls frequently. Also harrow pastures to break up manure and help break the parasite life cycle.

– Remove noxious weeds and other indigestible substances from hay, bedding, and pasture grass. Suitable perimeter sprays and traps can kill insects before they invade your horse’s hay or stall bedding.

– Arrange for regular dental checkups. Properly aligned teeth are better at chewing food, which leads to improved digestion and less chance of impaction.

– Use digestive supplements to promote beneficial bacteria growth, bulk up fiber intake, and improve digestive health. Some, such as Sand Clear, are even formulated to help flush sand out of your horse’s digestive tract. Calming supplements can also help reduce anxiety that can lead to digestive stress during travel.

Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

Winter Water for your Horse

Water is the most important nutrient your horse needs any time of the year. It is essential for organ function, proper digestion and other body processes.

In the winter months, horses tend to drink less water than they need, but it is still a vital health requirement. Horses will drink warm water, which is difficult to provide in the winter, especially if you live where the outside temperature goes below freezing for any period of time. It is essential to keep fresh water available at all times – that means high quality, clean, and unfrozen. In fact, the best way to keep your horse drinking enough water in the winter is to make sure it is ice free, even if the water is outside. You can easily do this with a tank de-icer.

A tank de-icer can be a timesaver for any barn. No more hauling warm water to the trough, no more breaking up the ice on top so your horse can get to this valuable resource.

De-icers come in two styles: floating and submersible.

Clean tank tip
One tip to keep troughs and buckets clean without dumping them on the ground, creating ice and dangerous footing for your horse, is to use a small net to skim the debris from the top of the water. Keep the net on a hook by the source of the water. Although it will likely freeze, once you place it in the water the next time, it will thaw out enough to use.

Floating models are created for buoyancy. You place them in a stock tank and they keep the surface water thawed. Floating de-icers may or may not be completely enclosed, and often include styrofoam to keep them afloat. They are controlled by a thermostat and include an automatic shut-off and turn-on feature. If you use a floating de-icer, make sure your horse does not play with it or chew the cord.

Another type of de-icer is not buoyant. They are submersible and safely sit at the bottom of the water tank or are securely clipped to the side of the tank. They prevent ice build-up in the tank and are designed so that a playful horse will not remove it from the water. The heating elements are protected from the horse. These also have automatic thermostats so that the water stays at a constant temperature.

Heated buckets
If your horse has a bucket in his stall or turnout area, a great way to keep the water thawed and palatable is to provide a heated bucket. With a heated bucket, a reliable water source is never far away.

Keeping water thawed is essential for your horse’s health. It may make the difference between good health and dehydration.

Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

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Temperature, Pulse and Respiration in a Horse

Equine Vital Signs
Temperature, pulse, and respiration (TPR) are the basic physiological parameters every horse owner or care provider should know if he or she wants to take proper care of a horse. These three vital signs are very important and can greatly help you and your veterinarian when you think your horse might be sick. Just knowing the normal values for these three vital signs can provide great insight about your horse’s physiological state.

Normal TPR
To know if your horse’s TPR values are abnormal, you first need to know what is normal. Although the normal heart rate for most horses is 32 to 36 beats per minute, some horses have lower heart rates, 24 beats per minute, or maybe slightly higher heart rates, 40 beats per minute.

You will need a thermometer, a stethoscope, and a watch with a second hand or one that counts seconds. A digital thermometer should be used because the time required for a reading is much less and it is more flexible than a glass mercury thermometer.

The thermometer should have a small hole at the end so a long piece of brightly colored string or tape can be attached to help find the thermometer if it is dropped or lost in the stall. A small clamp or clothespin can be placed at the end of the string so it can be attached to the horse’s tail and left in place until the temperature can be read. In that way, you do not have to hold the thermometer in place. You can purchase these thermometers at any drug store.

The stethoscope is used to clearly hear the heart beating and the sounds of breathing. An inexpensive stethoscope can be purchased at a drug or horse supply store that will be sufficient to hear the heartbeat and determine a heart rate (pulse) and respiratory rate.

Temperature
Rectal temperature is easily taken on most horses by placing a small amount of lubricant (petroleum jelly) on the thermometer. Approach the horse from the side; do not stand directly behind the horse in case they decide to kick. Raise or move the horse’s tail and insert the thermometer into the anus. Thermometers designed for use with livestock have a ring on the top. This ring can be attached to a string and a clip attached to the opposite end of the string. The clip can be clipped to the horse’s tail when you take the horse’s temperature.

The normal rectal temperature of a horse is 99.5 to 101.5°F (37.5 to 38.6ºC). Foals less than 1 month of age have a normal temperature of 100.0 to 102.0°F (37.7 to 38.8ºC). Newborn foals can easily suffer from hypothermia (low body temperature), so if the foal’s temperature is below 98.0°F (36.6ºC), call your veterinarian. In the meantime, rub the foal with towels or blankets to stimulate blood flow and/or dry its coat.

If the horse’s rectal temperature is above normal, it has a fever, not a temperature. All horses have a temperature, either above normal (fever), below normal (hypothermia), or normal.

Pulse
The heart rate can be taken without a stethoscope, but having a stethoscope makes the job easier. If a stethoscope is not handy, the pulse can be taken from the facial artery, which is on the bottom side of the jaw in a shallow groove beneath the last cheek tooth. Count the number of beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by four to calculate the heart rate in beats per minute. Remember, any excitement by the horse will increase the pulse rate.

If a stethoscope is available, listen to the heart on the left side of the horse’s chest, just behind the elbow. Each sound of the heart is considered one beat. The normal heart rate for an adult horse is about 32 to 36 beats per minute. Foal heart rates vary depending on age. Newborn foals have a heart rate of between 80 to 100 beats per minute. Foals which are a few weeks to a few months of age will have heart rates of 60 to 80 beats per minute.

Respiration
Respiration can be taken by watching the horse’s chest move in and out (an inhale and exhale is one breath) or feeling the air come out of the nostrils. The stethoscope can be used to listen to the breaths as the air travels across the trachea when the horse inhales and exhales. Respiration characteristics should also be noted. Is the sound clear? Are the breaths shallow or deep? Is there any abnormal squeaking or crackling sound associated with the breathing?

The normal respiratory rate for adult horses is eight to 12 breaths per minute. Newborn foals have respiratory rates that are 60 to 80 breaths per minute. Older foals have resting respiratory rates from 20 to 40 breaths per minute. Remember, if your horse or foal becomes excited for any reason, the respiratory rate can be temporarily elevated.

Capillary Refill Time
Another indicator of health is mucous membrane, or gum, color. Healthy horses have nice pink gums that are moist to the touch. Capillary refill time is tested by pressing your finger firmly on the gum above the front incisors and removing it quickly. The time it takes for the area to turn from white back to pink is the capillary refill time. Normal refill time is about 2 seconds. If capillary refill time is longer than 2 seconds you should note the color of the mucous membrane and contact your veterinarian.

You greatly increase your horse’s chance of surviving a serious illness or accident by knowing your horse’s normal vital signs and being able to take its vital signs in an emergency.

Craig Wood, Uniersity of Kentucky

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