Stomach ulcers are a very common problem in Australian performance horses. A horse’s stomach has two distinct areas; the squamous (non-glandular region) and the Glandular region. It is the squamous region that most commonly has ulcers in performance horses. This section of the stomach becomes ulcerated because there is no protection from stomach acid during exercise where the stomach acid can splash repetitively onto the stomach wall and allow ulcers to develop.
This is one of the main reasons that almost 100% of thoroughbred race horses have some degree of ulcers after being in training after 2 to 3 months. Also 60%- 90% of standard bred race horses, show/ competition horses, work horses and pleasure horses also have ulcers, so any horse in training is susceptible to some degree of ulceration.
Stress in horses also plays a role in the ulcers of the squamous region of the stomach as ulcers have been known to worsen or increase with urban locations of stables, lack of feed and lack of contact with other horses.
Signs of ulcers can be:
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- Dull coat
- Weight loss
- Resistance or unwillingness during riding
- Dullness
- Diarrhoea
- Mild colic signs directly after feeding, especially grain or high sugar feeds.
Ulcers found in the glandular portion of the stomach are caused by a completely different means compared to squamous ulcers. The ulcers are caused from horses that are treated with certain drugs like Bute or Banamine at a higher than normal dose or for an extended period of time. This doesn’t mean you should be concerned and that your horse shouldn’t have these medications but to ensure that they are being used correctly by dosing appropriately or not using the medication for an extended period of time then what your horse may need them for.
If your horse is prone to ulcers of squamous region due to training, it does not necessarily mean that they are more likely to develop ulcers with bute or other medications.