Ulcer Treatment for Horses

When a horse is stressed, stomach acid levels rise to the top of the stomach, where the lining is nonglandular and unprotected. Treating a horse with ulcers can be a simple process. A change in diet or a supplement may be all that is needed. However, since ulcers are caused by stress, finding what stresses a horse may be more difficult.

  1. Initial treatment

    • Your veterinarian may prescribe omeprazole for your horse to take care of the ulcer. Another option is called the generic H2 blocker. Omeprazole is more expensive, but generally works faster than H2 blockers. H2 blockers are less expensive, but are often under-dosed according to Dr. Michael J. Murray, and therefore ineffective.

    Grain

    • Because grain increases the amount of the hormone gastrin in the body, which increases acid secretion in the stomach, reducing grain meals can help an ulcer-prone horse. Also, horse stomachs are designed to be constantly digesting large amounts of fiber, which grain diets cannot recreate.

    Roughage

    • Roughage, which includes hay, hay substitutes, grass and beet pulp, decreases a horse's risk for ulcers by absorbing stomach acid. Also, it takes longer for a horse to chew roughage, which produces more acid-neutralizing saliva.

    Supplements

    • Numerous ulcer-oriented supplements are available. Avoid calcium bicarbonate; this can cause mineral absorption issues in the future. You can choose short-term supplements until your horse is feeling better, or long-term supplements meant to be used as a preventative.

    Reduce stress

    • Any change in a horse's routine, such as stabling a pastured horse or increasing his workload, may cause enough stress to create an ulcer, though not all stressors create ulcers in all horses. Ulcers can be reduced by doing less of what stresses the horse.