Does My Horse Have Gastric Ulcers?

ulcersQUESTION:
I have a 10 year old gelding that has had a number of “small” colics over that last couple of months. Most of them started with him not wanting to eat, and then within a few hours was laying down, and looking at his belly. In these episodes, I have only had to call the vet once, and when he was examining him, he said that there was a possibility that he had ulcers. Why, after having him for 3 years and never having colicked before this winter, is he having so many issues?

ANSWER:
While there are a number of reasons for a horse to colic, ulcers certainly have come into light over the last few years. Recent research has confirmed that our equine friends often deal with EGUS (Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome). The affect this can have on our horses range from behavioral changes to chronic/ repetitive colic. Ulcers in horses have been shown to appear after as little as five days after a small change in diet, exercise, or housing. There are certainly other factors that will increase any one horses’ particular chance for having ulcers. These factors include- general disposition (are they a “stressed” horse), are they under intense training, is there a new herd mate or stall neighbor. So in the case above, as veterinarians, we would ask many questions looking for changes or predisposing factors that might have suddenly led this horse to become an “ulcer horse.”
There is only one way to definitively diagnose gastric ulcers in a horse, and that is with a gastroscope. Often times, trial therapy is used to confirm your veterinarian’s suspicions of EGUS. We will begin treatment (with omeprazole, cimetidine, ranitidine, or famotidine) and the owners evaluate whether the treatment has reduced or eliminated the clinical signs that the horse was experiencing.

Is equine colic an emergency?

colicQUESTION:
After 12 hours of watching my horse colic, and two shots of Banamine later, not to mention walking my horse for what seemed like a million miles, we resorted to pumping in a gallon of mineral oil with no results. When we contacted our regular vet, he said this was not an emergency and could wait until morning. Is colic a real emergency or were we just panicking?

ANSWER:
Colic is not a disease, but rather a very general term for abdominal pain in your horse.  The most common signs of colic include but are not limited to:

  • Looking at the flank area
  • Pawing incessantly
  • Kicking or biting at the belly
  • Getting up and down
  • Restlessness
  • Repeated rolling
  • Decreased/lack of appetite
  • Stretching out and posturing as if to urinate
  • Yawning/stretching jaw

If your horse is presenting with these signs or other abnormal behavior for that particular horse, time is of the essence, and early intervention can really make the difference.  There are many different causes of equine colic, most of which are related to the gastrointestinal tract, and range greatly in their severity of pain.  The length of time that a horse is experiencing colic can also be important in the severity.  While some causes of colic can take up to a few days to resolve, the longer your horse goes without resolution, the more serious the colic episode can be too.
Many colic cases will resolve without medical attention and we, as horse owners, may never know that they occurred.   If signs worsen, or seem prolonged, it is time to give your veterinarian a call.  Once you have called, wait by the phone and when your veterinarian calls, they will begin with a few questions regarding your horse’s vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration), general behavior, recent bowel movements, and history (How long has he been colicky? When was the last meal?).  Be prepared to answer these basic questions, and if the veterinarian deems it necessary, be prepared for a veterinary visit.