Page 16 - December 2016 Thoroughbred Highlight

were designed to be grazing animals which could roam
over grasslands, consuming relatively small amounts of forage
sslands, consuming relatively small amounts of forage
on a more or less steady basis, with as much exercise as they
re or less steady basis, with as much exercise as the7y see fit and, of course, no human interaction .
nd, of course, no human interaction7.
A Pain in the Gut:
Disturbing the Stomach Mucosa
By Lauren Marlborough, BSc (Hons), CESMT
Nature’s master plan was never to domesticate, extensively
s master plan was never to domesticate, extensively
train or feed concentrates to the equine species. In fact,
feed concentrates to the equine species. In fact,
horses were designed to be grazing animals which could roam
It was people that molded the horse to fit a whole new order of
eople that molded the horse to fit a whole new order of
life; confining the horse to small acreage or a stall, using the
fining the horse to small acreage or a stall, using the
horse for transportation or work methods, undergoing a great
r transportation or work methods, undergoing a great 9
deal of training, exercise and performance demands , setting
training, exercise and performance demands9, setting
rigid feeding schedules, asking the horse to consume a
ding schedules, asking the horse to consume a
specific amount of food in a specified time limit, adding
amount of food in a specified time limit, a7dding
concentrated feed into their diet , and introducing medication
trated feed into their diet7, and introducing medication
when a horse develops a health issue or illness. All of these
horse develops a health issue or illness. All of these
can cause serious gastric problems in a horse.
se serious gastric problems in a horse.
Horses with gastrointestinal (GI) problems can exhibit poor
with gastrointestinal (GI) problems can exhibit poor
appetite, poor body and hair coat condition, recurrent
, poor body and hair coat condition, recurrent
low-grade colic, stomach lesions, and a change in attitude and
de colic, stomach lesions, and a change in attitude and performance--e.g., the horse becomes more aggressive or
ance--e.g., the ho6rse becomes more aggressive or
grouchy . Recognizing these symptoms in your horse is one
6. Recognizing these symptoms in your horse is one
thing, but understanding why these symptoms occur is
ut understanding why these symptoms occur is
another. This article will focus on factors such as food,
. This article will focus on factors such as food,
exercise, stress and medication and how they can have a
, stress and medication and how they can have a 7 direct bearing on the stomach’s good health or lack of it .
earing on the stomach’s good health or lack of it7.
OMACH THE STOMACH
The stomach is a large sac that liquefies the feed ingested by
mach is a large sac that liquefies the feed ingested by
the horse. Acid from the stomach helps to break down some
When the stomach reaches about two-third of its capacity, 2 When the stomach reaches about two-third of its capacity,
e. Acid from the stomac2h helps to break down some
feed particles and a limited amount of fermentation and
food begins passing into the small intestine and the filling and
rticles and a limited amount of fermentation and
enzymatic activity takes place in the stomach as only a small
food begins passing into the small intestine and the filling and 7 tic activity takes place in the stomach7 as only a small emptying process continues until the horse finishes eating .
microbial population exists . No nutrients are absorbed
al population exists7. No nutrien2ts are absorbed emptying process continues until the horse finishes eating7.
through the stomach and food remains in this organ for about
the stomach2 and food remains in this organ for about FOOD 15 minutes before being passed on into the small intestine
tes before being passed on into the small intestine FOOD
The stomach contains two linings; the upper portion is the
mach contains two linings; the upper portion is the
non-glandular or squamous (scale-like) lining and covers
ndular or squamous (scale-like) lining and covers
about one-third of the total area. This mucosa contains no
ne-third of the total area. This mucosa contains no
glands and is covered by special squamous epithelium. This is
grain meals and limited hay. These horses could be at
and is covered by special squamous epithelium. This is
where problems can often occur because it has little to no
roblems can often occur because it has little to no 7
protection against hydrochloric stomach acid . The lower 10
two-thirds of the stomach is glandular and is the location
stomach contains food much of the time and the risk of
ds of the stomach is glandular and is the location
where acid and pepsin are secreted to digest food, as well as
cid and pepsin are secreted to digest food, as well as
stomach contains food much of the time and the risk of 7 stomach irritants are diminished as the food absorbs the acid .
As grazers, horses produce gastric acid constantly, which is As grazers, horses produce gastric acid constantly, which is
meant to be offset by nearly continuous eating and associated meant to be offset by nearly continuous eating and associated
saliva production, which contains acid-buffering agents. saliva production, which contains acid-buffering agents.
However, lack of turnout and stalled horses are fed twice-daily However, lack of turnout and stalled horses are fed twice-daily
grain meals and limited hay. These horses could be at
increased risk for gastric upset and lesion development
.
10
on against hydrochloric stomach acid7. The lower Research has shown that when horses are fed frequently, the
. Research has shown that when horses are fed frequently, the
increased risk for gastric upset and lesion development
the production of bicarbonate and mucus, which help form a 7
uction of bicarbonate and mucus, which help form a 6 protective barrier over the mucosal surface .
stomach irritants are diminished as the food absorbs the acid .
ve barrier over the mucosal surface6.
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