July 16, 2016 - Foal Health: Ulcers in Young Horses

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Equine ulcers were first recognized in horses more than 30 years ago.

by Heather Smith Thomas

Unbuffered acid, or acid exposure of non-glandular regions of the stomach not normally pro- tected by mucus, can lead to erosion and ulcerations of the lining. Now we know that gastric (stomach) ulcers affect many horses in stressful performance careers, even though some horses do not show obvious signs. Some of the early studies also looked at ulcers in foals. Reports in the Equine Veterinary Journal in 1989 and 1996 by Dr. Michael J. Murray and associates stated that gastric ulcers affect up to 93% of racehorses, 60% of horses in other performance careers, and up to 59% of foals.

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