equine ulcers

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Jesstickle

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What causes stomach ulcers in horses?

In humans they are caused by bacteria is it the same in horses? If it is why do I hear so much about low fibre diets causing them? I am confused, can someone enlighten me please?
 
I think so - I am assuming that stress and poor health somehow knocks out the beneficial bacteria allowing the nasty ones to increase in numbers.

How they come to cause issues in the stomach I'm not sure of though - they must be acidophiles? Or is it that somehow the quantity of stomach acid increases and gets above the level in the stomach that has a protective lining?? Hmm, may have to do some research....cool:
 
There is definately a species of bacteria linked to human ulcers - something pyloriI think - can't remember the proper name which is annoying me intensely - so you could well be right!
 
Helicobacter pylori (sorry - a science geek!) - damages lining and that allows stomach acid to work through the protective mucous membranes and cause the ulcer - in humans anyway.

Think they contract bacteria from food or water - but not all infected people develop ulcers....

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/

Link is for human stomach ulcers - but would be similar for horses I would assume:confused:
 
Also because horses are trickle feeders they need to have food moving through their system - i think they are meant to be eating between 16-18 hours a day! And I have a feeling they need the food to be moving through their system to keep the acid/bacteria moving...I think! And having a high fibre diet would mean that there would be loads moving through - hence a low fibre diet possibly causing ulcers. Although I'm not 100% sure...
 
bertthefrog said:
Helicobacter pylori (sorry - a science geek!) - damages lining and that allows stomach acid to work through the protective mucous membranes and cause the ulcer - in humans anyway.

Think they contract bacteria from food or water - but not all infected people develop ulcers....

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/

Link is for human stomach ulcers - but would be similar for horses I would assume:confused:
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Hehe. You're not too much of a science geek don't worry. I knew the name of the bacteria without looking it up. And I'm a scientist.

Isn't it intriguing :)
 
:DAs already said the horse is designed to be eating for minium 16 hours a day. This means that the horses stomach is never meant to be empty. When we leave them without food the stomach obviously emptys and the acid in the horses stomach starts to eat away at the stomach lining as there is no food for it to work on. This then causes ulcers. That is why lack of forage is key in ulcers because the more forage the fuller the tummy! Simples!
 
xxRachelxx said:
:DAs already said the horse is designed to be eating for minium 16 hours a day. This means that the horses stomach is never meant to be empty. When we leave them without food the stomach obviously emptys and the acid in the horses stomach starts to eat away at the stomach lining as there is no food for it to work on. This then causes ulcers. That is why lack of forage is key in ulcers because the more forage the fuller the tummy! Simples!
Click to expand...

But this is what people used to think about humans and then it turned out to be utter rot!
Stomach lining should be impervious to acid surely? It is stomach lining. Maybe not though. I suppose over enough time maybe it does just work as simply as this. Horses are full of design flaws after all. What kind of animal can't vomit for goodness sake. How thoroughly useless!
 
I didn't realise that about people. But people arnt designed to have a full tummy all the time and eat for 16 hours a day? This is what my nutrition lecturer at college told us in our nutriton lecture so am asuming its true. It may not be!! Maybe I should do it ofr my dissertation ina couple of years lol
 
xxRachelxx said:
I didn't realise that about people. But people arnt designed to have a full tummy all the time and eat for 16 hours a day? This is what my nutrition lecturer at college told us in our nutriton lecture so am amusing its true. It may not be!! Maybe I should do it ofr my dissertation ina couple of years lol
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well it isn't quite what people thought. It was thought that in people poor diet, too much spicy food etc would cause stomach ulcers. Turns out that a huge percentage are due to bacteria (something like 70-90% I believe) which is what made me question it. I expect it is accepted wisdom that it is entirely diet based but I am curious in a gimpy scientist way to know if this is actually the case :D
 
Also just re-read in my notes that horses release stomach acid all the time whereas people only release it when food enters stomach? That is why horses need the continually supply of food to mop up the acid.
 
Hi, I'm currently doing research about horse colic caused by EGUS. I found this thread via google. I wanted to ask you guys something, since, according to my research... equine ulcers are caused by infrequent feedings to the horse - as stated by rachel on her post, the horse are made to eat most of the time. There are some horse owners, who feed their horses around 4-6x a day, and still their horses have ulcers.

So, I'd like to ask those owners who have experienced equine ulcers - Just how frequently do you feed your horses in a day? Your answers are greatly appreciated.

btw, please help me answer the poll for our research, We need at least 200 people who own horses for the poll about colic, please add my facebook so that I can just message you the link for the poll. Thank you very much!
 
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