My horse has recently been diagnosed with ulcers, and I am treating him with probiotics, however, is there a connection between ulcers and colic? Do horses with ulcers have higher instances of colic episodes? – via horsechannel.com
I chose this question because you bring up lots interesting things to talk about! First, let’s review the definition of “colic.” Since this word simply means “abdominal pain,” technically pain from ulcers falls under the larger umbrella of pain in the abdomen or colic. So a horse suffering from painful ulcers in the stomach is already experiencing colic. Confusing, I know. It may help to learn that typically the abdominal pain due to gastric ulcers is described as mild, intermittent, and recurring colic. Of course, there are other conditions that also cause mild or intermittent or recurring colic, which is why a veterinary diagnosis is so important.
That brings me to the second point: there is only one FDA-approved drug for the treatment of ulcers in horses, and that is GastroGard, which contains the active ingredient omeprazole. This compound completely blocks acid production by the cells of the stomach in the short-term, giving tissues a chance to heal. Tapering off the full, treatment dose of GastroGard is important in preventing the acid-rebound effect, where cells that produce acid temporarily go into overdrive once their function is restarted. At the same time, there are specific natural ingredients proven to support the body’s own healing process that can be supplemented to the diet. And of course, removing as many risk factors for gastric ulcers as possible (such as a high-grain diet, infrequent hay feeding, and increased stall time) is key to preventing their recurrence.
Now to get to your question: do horses with ulcers have higher instances of colic episodes? By this I assume you mean higher instances of colic from other sections of the gastrointestinal tract such as the small intestine, cecum, and colon. While I would usually lean on research for the answer, there aren’t a whole lot of studies on this particular relationship. Certainly anecdotally there are reports of a link between the two, although a prominent veterinarian and colic surgeon I was speaking with recently said it’s hard to know which comes first: colic in the hindgut causing so much pain and stress the horse subsequently develops gastric ulcers, or the presence of ulcers in the stomach causing the rest of the gastrointestinal tract to be dysfunctional, resulting in colic of small intestine, cecum, or colon origin. It does stand to reason that, because gastric ulcers and hindgut colic share many of the same risk factors, a horse who is prone to stomach lesions might also be prone to problems in other parts of the digestive tract. The short answer is: experts aren’t sure but they have their suspicions. I hope this helps!
Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA SmartPak Staff Veterinarian and Medical Director Dr. Lydia Gray has earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and a Master of Arts focusing on interpersonal and organizational communication. After “retiring” from private practice, she put her experience and education to work as the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s first-ever Director of Owner Education. Dr. Gray continues to provide health and nutrition information to horse owners through her position at SmartPak, through publication in more than a dozen general and trade publications, and through presentations around the country. She is the very proud owner of a Trakehner named Newman that she actively competes with in dressage and combined driving. In addition to memberships in the USDF and USEF, Dr. Gray is also a member of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association (IDCTA). She is a USDF “L” Program Graduate and is currently working on her Bronze Medal. Find Dr. Gray on Google+
I have a 13 year old mare she has a rupture on her stomach and i want to know what it would cost for surgry
My horse has a puncture wound which will not heal. It still oozes, but it is n o longer swollen. The vet, (I live in NY ( wants to take her to Cornell University. I don’t have the money for that option. Any suggestions? Thank you. Pamela
I have used Vetericyn for some really bad cuts and wounds on my horses. Vetericyn Animal Wound and Skin Care products are innovative topical solutions for the care of wounds and irritations. Vetericyn is non-toxic, steroid-free and antibiotic-free and will not sting when applied. There is no rinsing or staining after use. Vetericyn is intended for OTC management of skin abrasions, lacerations, minor irritations, cuts and intact skin. Vetericyn Animal Wound and Skin Care products are innovative topical solutions for the care of wounds and irritations. Vetericyn is non-toxic, steroid-free and antibiotic-free and will not sting when applied. There is no rinsing or staining after use. I have even used it on goats that were badly attacked by a dod and was stitched up by a vet. The vet was amazed how fast the goat healed. It’s really great stuff and I am never without a bottle. You can get it in farm supply stores and pet stores as well as online. You need to spray it on 3 to 4 times a day for this kind of wound. It’s also highly recommended by horse trainer, Clinton Anderson! Good luck with your horse!
One of my horse (I have 5) is a paint gelding – and we adopted him. He was from TX, and the vet said he was going to die. The vet said to get him out of TX in April, which I got him on April 7th, 2017 – he was 12 years old and he’s been so, so, good here in Montana. I can ride him and do anything with him – I love him so much. I’ve never, ever been without horses – I got my first horse when I was 4 years old. Like I said, I’ve never gotten rid of any of my horses my whole life.
have you ever of giving horses raw sweet potatoes cut up for ulcers ?
Hi Diana,
There has been some speculation in humans that sweet potatoes may be helpful in supporting stomach health. While there are a handful of anecdotal reports that sweet potatoes may not be a bad snack for horses as well, there are other options for supporting stomach health in horses that are a bit more widely documented, used and understood. For example, not feeding large grain meals, and feeding smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may be helpful management tools for maintaining gastric health. I’d recommend checking in with your horse’s veterinarian to see what the best options would be for your individual situation.
– Dr. Lydia Gray