Natural Treatment For Stomach Ulcers In Horses

Equine gut ulceration is a modern disease.  

Why?  Equine anatomy & physiology hasn’t changed but the environment, management and feeding methods of horses and the demands on them have.  Therein lies the answer.

What is equine gut ulceration? 

There are different names depending on the region where the ulcers occur – Squamous, Gastric, Pyloric, Hindgut (large intestine)  The Pyloris is the area between the stomach and the duodenum.

Equine Squamous Gastric Ulcer Syndrome refers to ulcerative lesions specifically affecting the squamous portion of the equine stomach, or roughly, the upper third of the stomach, where hydrochloric acid is secreted continuously along with the enzyme pepsin and organic acids.

Glandular Gastric Ulcer Syndrome affects the lower two-thirds of the stomach which is protected by the mucosal lining and secretion of bicarbonate & mucus.

Structure Governs Function

When the structure breaks down so does the function

The digestive tract lining from the lower two-thirds of the stomach to the hind gut, is only a single cell thick with a vast area for absorption due to its folded structure.  It is obvious that this structure can easily be compromised with ulceration which causes pain and disrupts normal function.

Causes of Gut Ulceration

Many of the causes of gut ulceration can also cause other digestive upsets such as colic.   

• Lack of sufficient roughage (hay, chaff, pasture)
• Feeding processed feeds which often contain rancid oils & are denatured & low in real nutrients.
• Rapid change of diet
• Lack of essential nutrients, esp minerals
• Stress  –  from inappropriate management & training
• Frequent travel and/or long distance travel without access to sufficient feed and water.
• Worm burdens which cause damage to the lining of the g-i tract
• Inappropriate use of bute, steroids, antibiotics and other drugs
• Disturbance to the gut biome from toxins
• Bacterial & viral infections
• The main cause of gastric/gut ulceration is the lack of access to adequate roughage

Signs & Symptoms of Horses with Ulcers

Symptoms of gut ulceration vary between individuals and not all horses have all the symptoms

• Irritability with rugging, saddling, grooming, handling
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss/poor feed conversion
• Playing with their water & not actually drinking
• Loose, odorous manure
• Lack of energy, unwilling to work
• Cranky with other horses
• Kicking, biting
• Poor hair coat
• So called stable vices, weaving, windsucking, cribbing
• Inability to relax/sleep
• Greyhound gut appearance, hollow flanks

Natural Treatment for Horses with Ulcers

In the case of ulceration anywhere in the gastro-intestinal tract  treatment is needed for the whole digestive system – gut, liver, pancreas (and all the gut associated lymph tissue known as GALT) as they all have a significant role to play in the healthy functioning of the whole.  

The herbs selected in Walkenny’s ULCER ASSIST formula treat the whole digestive system.

Comfrey – heals ulcers and restores the integrity of the gut lining, the allantoin content is a cell proliferant

Calendula – anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, cleanses lymphatic tissues, anti-oxidant  

Chamomile – calms & strengthens the nervous system 

Fenugreek – cleanses & tones the lining of the g-i tract & the lymphatic system & is an appetite stimulant

Liquorice – anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, tones & soothes due g-i tract, balances the immune system

Meadowsweet – provides pain relief without any side effects

Psyllium Husks – natural source of soluble fibre to help balance the gut biome

Slippery Elm Bark Powder -absorbs toxins from the gut,  balances bacterial fermentation. 

This highly palatable dried mix is added to the feed. 

Natural Feeding for Horses with Stomach Ulcers

It’s essential to feed all raw feeds and no processed feeds as well as more than sufficient roughage, that is hay, chaff and pasture. 

Chewing of roughage promotes salivation which acts as a pH buffer.   

Mixed feeds which soothe and assist in healing the gut lining should be added to chaff.  Boiled barley and millet and linseed porridge are two which work very well because of their high mucillage content and nutrient density.

Dampen down the mixed feed with raw honey diluted in water as honey is healing and nutritious.

A balanced mineral/vitamin/essential nutrient intake is easily provided with Walkenny’s Equi-Vital All Natural Supplement.

Full details on how to design your own diets is available free with all Equi-Vital purchases.  Here’s a preview of this fantastic resource.

Feeding Corn Oil for horses with ulcers is contra-indicated.

Corn or vegetable oil is often recommended to enhance blood flow to the mucosa and reduce acidity and several drugs are also used for this. Using oils of this type is totally contra-indicated due to to the fact that they are always rancid, while herbs to heal the gut associated lymph tissue such as Fenugreek, and the micro-circulation (Rosehips) work better and have additional benefits.

Pharmaceuticals to treat gut ulceration aim to decrease hydrochloric acid and reduce acidity which will help to alleviate pain, reduce ongoing damage and allow the mucosal lining to heal. This is OK in the short term but symptoms recur after treatment is ceased, so this is the time to start herbal treatment as medium to long term treatment  inhibiting hydrochloric acid interferes with the normal process of digestion.

Even better is to start natural treatment as soon as signs of stomach ulcers show up. 

Treating Pain in Horses with Stomach Ulcers

When a horse has had stomach ulcers for a long time, additional natural treatment to detoxify the liver and to provide natural pain relief will be needed. 

Walkenny’s Anti-inflam and Liver de-tox are liquid herbs which are syringed over the tongue and are very helpful in cases where the horse’s appetite is reduced. 

The major components of this formula are Devils Claw and Meadowsweet which is a superb combination for easing pain and inflammation without any side effects, while the Devil’s Claw is also beneficial to the functioning of the liver.

This formula contains Dandelion, St Marys Thistle and Burdock which are the three most effective herbs for liver and kidney detoxification.   Dandelion also provides natural electrolytes. 

For best results start natural treatment as soon as signs and symptoms of stomach ulcers show up.