Successful treatment for gastric ulcers involves lifestyle management combined with appropriate ulcer medication for horses.
Lifestyle management includes reducing stress, implementing a low starch, high fibre diet and the prevention of gastric splashing.
The best gastric ulcer medication for horses is a combination of omeprazole, sucralfate and probiotics (which can all be purchased online without a prescription).
Gastric Ulcer Medication for Horses:
Omeprazole:
Omeprazole is the current gold standard for treating horses with gastric ulcers.
It works by inhibiting the proton pumps (which produce stomach acid) while also allowing a horse to continue its daily life even under treatment.
To ensure the best results, omeprazole should be administered with an enteric coating.
Sucralfate:
Sucralfate is beneficial in the treatment of gastric ulcers – as it forms a protective layer over the site of the ulcer.
However, to avoid drug interaction, omeprazole and sucralfate cannot be fed at the same time.
Probiotics:
Probiotic supplements help to re-establish a healthy flora environment in the horse’s stomach and colon. Probiotics can also prevent ulcers recurring.
Where do you buy gastric ulcer medication for horses?
The appropriate medication for treating horses with gastric ulcers can all be purchased from Abler, with no need for a prescription.
Lifestyle Modifications you can make
While the correct medication can heal existing ulcers, the cause of the ulcers must be addressed to stop them reoccurring.
Unfortunately, they nearly always come back unless diet & lifestyle changes are made.
If your horse is repeatably subjected to the stress of training, travelling and competing, the best thing you can do is minimise their stress levels and give sucralfate as an ulcer preventative (when needed).
Free grazing is a great start, but if that’s not feasible for whatever reasons, horses absolutely MUST have constant access to forage (hay, silage or haylage). Similarly, they should not be fed large, grain laden meals.
In addition, you can make small adjustments to your training regime to prevent the incidence of gastric splashing, which is one of the main causes of gastric ulcers in horses.
