Equine Medical Conditions & Treatments
Looking for sign of ulcers can be tricky. Research has shown that there is very little behavior difference between horses with and without ulcers. Here are some physical and behavioral signs you can look for. Just remember if your horse isn’t exhibiting bad behavior or decreased performance doesn’t mean they don’t have ulcers.The only sure way to know is to have your horse scoped.
Signs of Possible Ulcers
- Decrease in appetite
- Eats food more rapidly when fed late
- Weight loss and poor body condition
- Dull hair coat
- Mild bouts of colic
- Mental dullness
- Change in overall attitude
- Decreased performance
- Lying down more than normal
- Irritable when cinching
- Biting when sides are touched or brushed
- Kicking out when riding with leg presure or spur
Horses with photosensitivity do not have a sunburn. This is a more serious skin condition in horses. There are two main causes.
The ingestion of toxic plants which include St. John’s Wort, buckwheat, burr trefoil, smartweed, and perennial rye grass can cause this condition. These plants deposit photo-reactive substances in the tissues. Those particles then react to sunlight resulting in red “sun burnt” crusty skin that dies and sloughs away. Skin with less pigment (pink skin) lets in more UV rays which is why it can be mistaken for a sunburn.
The second possible cause is a complication of chronic liver disease. The liver fails to metabolize certain plant pigments which causes phylloerythrins (the end-product of chlorophyll metabolism) to be deposited in tissue which then reacts to sunlight.
It can take as little as 5 days for a horse to develop an ulcer under stressful conditions. These conditions can include training, travel, competitions, or an environment change.
Yes, you can treat pregnant mares with confirmed cases of ulcers with GastroGard or UlcerGard. It is important to confirm that your pregnant mare has ulcers by having your vet perform an endoscopic exam prior to medicating. This will allow your veterinarian to put the best treatment plan in place.
These medications which are administered over 8 – 28 days can be costly. A 28 day supply can cost as much as $1000. Determining whether your horse has an ulcer, or the extent of the ulcer problem, by having your veterinarian perform an endoscopic exam costing just a few hundred dollars may very well save you time and money.
There are other alternatives to medication. You can try feeding a little alfalfa prior to graining. The alfalfa will work as an antacid. Allowing your horse to continually eat hay can also help reduce acid buildup and irritation.
Safety Notes:
- Studies have not been completed to determine safety of UlcerGard or GastroGard in pregnant or lactating mares.
- Ulcer medications should only be used in horses over 600 pounds.
The symptoms of EPM vary from case to case. Knowing what is “normal” for your horse can go a long way in recognizing a problem and catching it early. If you suspect your horse has EPM, look for the following signs.*
- Lack of coordination, which may worsen when going up or down a hill or when the head is elevated.
- Stiff or stilted movement
- Abnormal gait or lameness
- Muscle atrophy. This is generally noticeable along the top line or around the large muscle in the hind end. Occasionally it can affect the muscles in the front limbs and face.
- Paralysis of the eye, faces, or mouth muscles. You may notice drooping eyes, ears, or lips.
- Trouble swallowing
- Seizures or collapse
- Abnormal sweating
- Loss of feeling in the body, neck or face
- Poor balance
- A horse may lean against its stall walls for support, or may stand splay-footed (feet turned out)
* We should point out in many cases the symptoms are asymmetrical and will only affect one side of the body.
There are four contributing factors that seem to determine the severity of EPM. They are:
- The number of parasites that the horse ingested: the larger the number of parasites, the more severe the symptoms
- The amount of time a horse is infested with the parasites prior to treatment
- The location of the organisms: brain, brain stem, or spinalcord
- If the horse experiences a stressful event during or after infection
If you suspect your horse may have EPM, your veterinarian will perform a standard neurological examination. If they identify a symptom, they may order blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis that will determine your horse’s exposure to EPM.
Learn more: How Horses Contract EPM
All horses are at risk of getting EPM. Areas with larger opossum populations are at the greatest risk but because feeds are transported across the country, it is possible for any horse to ingest infected hay or grain.