1,406
edits
Changes
→Prevention
==Prevention==
==Prevention==
Prophylaxis in foals controversial as gastric acidity may be protective against bacterial translocation (Sanchez). It may be beneficial in foals receiving substantial doses of NSAIDs for orthopaedic pain (Sanchez)
===Prophylaxis===
Management: diet, training, exercise, stress (company, toys)
*Omeprazole paste at lower dose (1-2mg/kg) daily for 3-4wks (100, 107-109 in Sanchez)
**Prevented ulcers in horses maintained under ulcerogenic conditions (White et al. 2003; McClure et al. 2005a,b,c;White et al. 2007).
**Treating ulcers in asymptomatic performance horses may lead to improved performance.(Orsini)
**Prophylaxis in foals controversial as gastric acidity may be protective against bacterial translocation (Sanchez).
**May benefit foals receiving substantial doses of NSAIDs for orthopaedic pain (Sanchez)
===Management===
Diet, training, exercise, stress (company, toys)
Free access to good quality pasture and feeding alfalfa or other high calcium or high protein forages may help to prevent gastric ulceration (Nadeau et al. 2000; Lybbert et al. 2007; Ralston 2007). Since a large quantity of VFAs are produced in the stomach of horses fed high concentrate diets, it has been suggested that concentrates should be fed at ≤ 0.5 kg/100 kg bwt not more frequently than every 6 h and horses that are prone to EGUS should be feed concentrates with caution. Also, horses at risk of ulceration, performance horses, horses confined to stalls, and horses that are ill should be fed concentrates sparingly and roughage should be fed continuously.(nadeau 2009)
Pasture turnout and continuous access to high quality forage especially alfalfa (Sanchez)
Pasture turnout and continuous access to high quality forage especially alfalfa (Sanchez)
Furthermore, recent information suggests that feeding a diet that contains 0.5 kg of grain per 100 kg bwt no more frequently than 6 h apart can reduce the risk of EGUS (Andrews et al. 2006).
Furthermore, recent information suggests that feeding a diet that contains 0.5 kg of grain per 100 kg bwt no more frequently than 6 h apart can reduce the risk of EGUS (Andrews et al. 2006).
In another study, alfalfa hay was shown to protect horses against EGUS, by increasing stomach pH. Gastric juice pH and ulcer scores were lower in horses fed a diet containing alfalfa hay compared to the same horses fed dietary brome or costal Bermuda hay (Nadeau et al. 2000; Lybbert et al. 2007). The authors concluded that alfalfa hay may be useful in addition to antiulcer treatment for prevention and treatment of squamous gastric ulcers.(Nadeau 2009)
In another study, alfalfa hay was shown to protect horses against EGUS, by increasing stomach pH. Gastric juice pH and ulcer scores were lower in horses fed a diet containing alfalfa hay compared to the same horses fed dietary brome or costal Bermuda hay (Nadeau et al. 2000; Lybbert et al. 2007). The authors concluded that alfalfa hay may be useful in addition to antiulcer treatment for prevention and treatment of squamous gastric ulcers.(Nadeau 2009)
Pasture turnout has been recommended as the most natural and least ulcerogenic environment (Murray 1994).
Horses that must be kept in a stall should have continuous access to hay and should eat it; stall confined horses may eat less often than grazing horses, and may also eat less hay if all calorific requirements are met by concentrates or grains. The practical requirements of race training may make most of these recommendations difficult or impossible to achieve.(Orsini)
==References==
==References==