5 Tips to Help Manage Gastric Ulcers in Horses Using Feed
The digestive system of a horse is uniquely designed for consumption and digestion of forage (pasture/hay). A small, simple stomach designed for small, frequent meals and an expansive cecum and colon containing a diverse microbiome to ferment plant fiber make the horse ideally suited to slow, continuous consumption of forage. Unfortunately, the demands of performance (competition) often force deviations in this simple diet to include large amounts of grain concentrates, limited or no pasture, and reduced forage consumption for horses. This dietary scenario often comes at a price, often resulting in gastric (stomach) ulcers.
The Impact of Gastric Ulcers on Horses
Horses can develop gastric ulcers in their stomach. The frequency of gastric ulcers varies from virtually zero to over 90% depending on activity and diet of the horses studied. However, in general, it appears that as the level of performance or activity increases, so does the potential for gastric ulcers. These ulcers are caused by unprotected regions of the stomach coming in contact with acid naturally produced for breaking down food. Since the digestive system of the horse is designed for small frequent meals, they do not have the ability to turn acid secretion on and off in the stomach. Acid is buffered or neutralized in the stomach by the consumption of forage, which stimulates chewing, and the production of saliva, which is the main stomach acid buffer. Performance horses, or any horse that receives less forage and proportionally more grain concentrate to fuel high calorie requirements, has an increased likelihood of developing a stomach ulcer.
5 Tips to Help Manage Gastric Ulcers in Horses Using Feed
Horses with gastric ulcers can be medicated to block acid secretion in the stomach. Medications are an effective short-term solution, but to have long-term relief, the diet of the horse must be considered. The following are feed management tips that will help reduce the incidence of gastric ulcers in horses.
Continuous forage access
Horses offered free-choice forage will produce more saliva and reduce acidity in the stomach, hindering ulcer formation.
Providing alfalfa
Due to the high calcium content of alfalfa, it is a natural buffer for stomach acid - providing a small meal of Standlee alfalfa 30 – 60 minutes prior to exercise will help prevent acid splash in the stomach and potentially reduce ulcers.
Limiting high-starch feeds
High-starch feeds including grains (e.g. oats, corn, and barley) are rapidly fermented in the stomach, increasing acidity and the potential for a gastric ulcer to develop in the horse - replacing high-starch ingredients with fat and fiber ingredients such as vegetable oil, rice bran, and beet pulp has been shown to reduce ulcer risk.
Feeding frequency and meal size
Feeding horses multiple small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals reduces fluctuations in gastric pH and prevents prolonged acid exposure to the more sensitive areas of the stomach.
Marine-derived calcium
This specific source of calcium has been shown to have an enhanced ability to buffer stomach acid.
Forage-Based Feed Supplement Solution for Horses With Gastric Ulcers
Feeding horses prone to gastric ulcers can be challenging, which is why Standlee has developed Forage Plus® Gastric Support. This molasses and grain-free, forage-based supplement combines alfalfa, beet pulp, canola oil, marine-derived calcium, and a proprietary blend of pre-biotics and pro-biotics and also includes zinc and butyric acid to help heal tissue damage and digestive health.
A feed supplement
Feeding Forage Plus Gastric Support to horses as a partial replacement for grass hay provides ingredients known to reduce the acidity in the stomach. To improve your horse’s diet and maximize the benefits of this supplement, Forage Plus Gastric Support can replace 25 – 50% of the existing forage in the horse’s diet. For example, a 1,000-pound horse eating 20 pounds of hay (or two percent of their bodyweight in hay) per day, Forage Plus Gastric Support can be fed at 5 – 10 lbs/day.
Pre or post-stress snack
Gastric Support can also be used as a pre or post-stress snack to help horses minimize the effects of stress on the digestive system. One to two pounds of Forage Plus Gastric Support should be fed prior to exercise or trailering, as the acid in the stomach splashes into the unprotected region with activity.
A diet rich in forage, particularly alfalfa, and low in starch plays a crucial role in managing and preventing gastric ulcers in horses. Continuous access to forage, frequent small meals, and strategic supplementation with Standlee Forage Plus Gastric Support can significantly improve gastric health in your horse. Nutritional management, combined with appropriate veterinary care, is key to preventing gastric ulcers and maintaining overall health.
If you have questions, please contact the nutritionists at Standlee, or consult with your veterinarian.
By
Dr. Stephen Duren
Standlee Nutritional Expert - Performance Horse Nutrition
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