Beyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global Impact
Gastric Ulcers: How to Tell if Your Horse Has One, and What to Do if it Does
1. My Horse University and eXtension’s HorseQuest
welcome you to this live Webcast.
Gastric Ulcers in Horses:
How to Tell if Your Horse
Has One, and What do Do if
it Does
Dr. Jenifer Nadeau
University of Connecticut
2. Meet our presenter:
Dr. Jenifer Nadeau
Associate Professor &
Equine Extension
Specialist
University of Connecticut
3. Prevalence of Equine Gastric Ulcer
Syndrome (EGUS)
• 60% to 93% in • 11% in lesson horses
performance horses • 66.6% in pregnant
• 40% to 58% of show broodmares
horses • 75.9% in non pregnant
• 25% to 50% in foals broodmares
• 37-53% pleasure horses
Murray et al, Equine Vet J, 1996; Murray, JAVMA, 1989; Murray,
AAEP, 1997; Bertone 2000; McClure et al. 1999.
8. Causes
• Diet especially hydrochloric acid and volatile
fatty acids
• Bile acids
• Bacterial contamination, including H. pylori
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs)
• Exercise
9. Causes of EGUS
• Damage occurs when aggressive
factors overpower defenses of
gastric mucosa
• Squamous mucosal lesions (80%)
result from increased acids
• Glandular mucosal lesions (20%)
result from impaired mucosal protection
10. Previous Study (Dietary Factors)
(Nadeau, Andrews, Mathew et al, AJVR, 2000)
1.5
Gastric Lesion Number and Severity
1
b
0.5
b
Change in score
0
NG Lesion# G Lesion# NG Severity G Severity Alfalfa/grain
-0.5
Bromegrass
-1
a
-1.5
a
-2
-2.5
11. Conclusions
High lipid solubility Ability to remain
undissociated at low pH
Cell Acidification, Damage to Sodium
Transport
Cell Swelling
Necrosis and Ulceration
12. Risk Factors
• Age, breed, gender
• Exercise
• Fasting
• Pasture turnout
• Starch intake
• Forage feeding and type of forage
• Water intake
• NSAIDs
13. Clinical Signs
• Acute and recurrent colic
• Poor body condition
• Poor appetite
• Grinding of teeth
16. Medical Management
• Antacids
• Histamine type 2 receptor antagonists
– Ranitidine/Cimetidine
• Omeprazole – Gastrogard
• Coating or binding agents
– Sucralfate/bismuth subsalicylate
17. Prevention and Management
• Roughage – as much as possible
– at least 1-1.5 kg/100 kg BW
– at least 75% roughage
– Give high protein (17-20% CP) or
high calcium (6-14 mg/g feed) forage
• Avoid feeding sweet feeds
– <1 g/kg BW starch meal
– <2 g/kg BW starch/day
• If giving concentrates, feed more
frequently
• Provide pasture turnout whenever
possible or frequent forage (4-6 meals/day)
18. Prevention and Management
• Provide fresh, clean water continuously
• Whenever possible, avoid stressful situations
– Long distance travel
– Changing environments
– Long periods of confinement
– Avoid leaving horses >6 hours without forage during
transport
– Consider giving antiulcer medicine before transport
• Use minimal effective dose for NSAIDs, treat with
antiulcer medicine simultaneously
19. Prevention and Management
• Racehorses
– Prior to racing, give normal ration
– Give forage up to 3 hrs prior to workout or race
– Do not feed hay or concentrates within 3 hrs of workout or
race
– After the workout or race, forages can again be offered
– Do not feed concentrates until at least 2 hrs after exercise
– Water can be offered free choice after exercise but should
initially drink slowly
20. Summary
• Multifactorial, many causes
• Long list of potential risk factors
• Important to evaluate horse’s diet and daily
management to prevent them
• By following these recommendations, may be
possible to prevent or reduce the risk of
gastric ulceration
• Feeding and management practices must
change to prevent recurrence!
21. Resources
• Nadeau, Jenifer & Luthersson, Nanna. Effect
of Nutrition on Gastric Ulceration. In:Equine
Applied and Clinical Nutrition Book Editor(s):
Ray Geor, Pat Harris and Manfred Coenen
• Hepburn, Richard. Gastric ulceration in horses.
March 2011. Equine Practice. 33:116-124.
23. Upcoming Events at UConn
• Spring Clinic: Trailer Driving 9-12 at UConn, March
26
• Spring Clinic: Natural Horsemanship 1-4 at UConn,
March 26
• Spring Clinic: Dressage with Deb Moynihan at
UConn, March 27
24. Upcoming Events at UConn
• Sigma Alpha Open Horse Show – April 3
• Horseplay Lecture at UConn for the CT Museum of
Natural History - April 3, 3 PM
• Eastern CT Draft Horse Plow Match, UConn – April 16
• Spring Horse Auction of UConn and CT Dept of Ag.
Horses – April 23
• 4-H Hippology Contest – April 30
• 4-H Horse Judging Contest – May 1
25. Upcoming Events at UConn
• Riding Camp Safety Certification Clinic – June 11
• Summer Riding Program – UConn – open to public
– Trail Sessions
– Session I May 3, 5, 10, 12, 24, 26
– Session II June 20, 22, July 5, 7, 19, 21
– Session III August 2,4,9,11,16,18
26. Questions?
• For questions or more information
about this and other horse-related
topics:
jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu
• Website:
http://animalscience.uconn.edu/equine/extension/extensio
• The University of Connecticut supports all state and
federal laws that promote equal opportunity and
prohibit discrimination.
An equal opportunity employer and program provider.
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29. Thank you for attending this live web presentation!
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