Page 82 - Libro_MariaA_26agosto

María Alejandra Ramelli

Gastric Ulcers

Gastric ulcers can affect your horse at any age. Sport horses are prone to de-
veloping gastric ulcers as exercise has been shown to increase gastric acid pro-
duction and decrease blood circulation in the horse’s intestinal tract. Horses are
more likely to have gastric ulcers than other animals because they have a small
stomach. They cannot handle large amounts of food, but small amounts throug-
hout the day. Plus, the diet that wild horses have has always been full of fiber
because of the grass, which make the stomach acids to be under control. Grain
doesn’t have enough fiber. That’s why it is very important to include hay rich in
fibber in your horse’s diet to avoid the formation of gastric ulcers (Nieto, 2012).

Symptoms (Nieto, 2012) (Sykes, (et.al.), 2015):

• Poor appetite

• Poor body condition

• Weight loss

• Poor hair coat

• Depression

• Change in behavior

• Poor performance

Prevention (Nieto, 2012)

• Feed horses frequently.

• Reduce the amount of grain and concentrates.

• Add alfalfa or other type of hay high in fiber to the diet.

• Avoid using anti-inflammatory drugs such as phenylbutazone, fluxin
meglumine or ketoprofen because they decrease the production of the
stomach’s protective mucus layer, making it prone to ulcers.

96