Ulcers are a very common health issues in horses therefore, it is important that necessary management practices are established in order to reduce the likelihood of the development of ulcers.
For information on common causes of equine ulcers check out Horse Health: What Causes Ulcers
The following are steps that can be taken to address the causes discussed in the article above and to help decrease the likelihood that your animal will develop ulcers.
Diet
Increase the amount of roughage in your horse’s diet by providing free-choice access to grass or hay.
Avoid or decrease the amount of grain in the diet. If possible, putting your horse on pasture is the best alternative.
Feed your horse more frequently or increase the amount of time he or she spends eating.
Provide probiotics to aid in digestion.
Stress
Try to decrease the amount of stress your horse experiences. If your horse must be stalled, arrange for him or her to be able to see the other horses that he or she socializes with. As well, offering a ball or other object that your horse can play with in the stall may also help to reduce stress.
Medication
Certain medications can increase the production of acids in the stomach therefore it may be beneficial to avoid these medications or to try to offset this production by using the practices above.
There are also medications that can help to decrease acid production. However, these are only necessary for horses that exhibit signs of clinical disease or when other factors, such as stress, cannot be removed.
The prevention of ulcers is the most important step that you can take to ensure your horse’s health.
Please note: It is always important to consult and follow the advice of your veterinarian in regards to any health related issues with your horse.
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