7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
1/25
ULCER PREVENTION & CARE
THROUGH FEEDING
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
2/25
Gina Fresquez, MSTechnical Equine Nutrition SpecialistPurina Animal Nutrition
www.ginawellness.com
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
3/25
Understand the Stomach Very small in size, 8% of gut, 2-4 gallons
HCl acid is secreted cont inuous ly 1 quarts/hr
Noabsorption of nutrients in stomach
Most feed passes through in 30 min. The larger the meal, the faster the emptying
Smallmeals
frequently
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
4/25
Up to 90% of Racing TBs
58% of Show Horses
Are Gastric Ulcers a Problem?
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
5/25
GastricUlcersContributing Factors High-grain diets - Starch
Volatile fatty acids (fermentation) produced
Decreased pH
Grazing deprivation and/or low forage diet Less buffering of excess acid by salivary bicarbonate
Periods of fasting Long periods without feed in the stomach gastric
hyperacidity Exercise/Training/Hauling added stress
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
6/25
Exercise-Associated
Gastric Ulcers
Abdominal pressure causing HydrochloricAcid and refluxed bile acids to splash onto
squamous mucosa is ulcerogenic
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
7/25
Non-glandular
or
Squamous
Glandular
Duodenum
HIGH DENSITY LIQUID
pH 1-2
revised from Schummer et al., 1979
RED ARROWS
indicate
increasedabdominal
pressure
Courtesy of Dr. Al Merritt
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
8/25
Exercise/Training/Hauling
Bag volume reduced nearly to 0 whentrotting and galloping, back to pre-
exercise volume when back to a walk
Gastric pH ~ 4 at the walk anddecreased further during trot and
gallop, stayed low until returned to
walk
Lorenzo-Figueras, 2002, Am. J. Vet. Res. 63:1481
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
9/25
Exercise/Training/Hauling
Simulated show/training environment
10 Control No travel or training
10 Hauled d 1 hauled 4 hr, housed in
stalls, fed 2X/day, exercised 2X/day, 3
days, d 4 hauled back
No ulcers on d 0
7 Hauled horses had ulcers on d 5 2 Control horses had ulcers on d 5
McClure, et al., 2005. JAVMA 227:775
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
10/25
Exercise/Training/Hauling
1 (pre-
training)
2 (6 wk
training)
3 (12 wk
training)
Number of horses in each group with
gastric ulcers
EX group 0/8 1/8 5/7
CON group 0/6 0/6 0/6
Gordon et al.,
ECEP 2006
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
11/25
Gastric Ulcers
Do feeding practicescontribute to problem?
Ulcers VERY RARE inhorses kept at pasture
With performance
horses, ulcers can
contribute to poor
performance, mostlybecause of poor
appetite and weight
loss.
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
12/25
Forage: Alfalfa Hay
Alf:Grain vs. Brome Hay only Alf:Grain = Increased gastric pH thru
5 hr post feeding and # and severityof non-glandular lesions was lower
Alf:Grain vs Bermuda:Grain
(exercise 3x/week)
Alf:Grain = lower ulcer scores, 11horses improved ulcer scores by 2grades
Nadeau, et.al., 2000. Am. J. Vet. Res.61:784
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
13/25
Alfalfa: Love or Hate?
5 6 hour buffering capability
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
14/25
Reduce Risk of Gastric Ulcers
Dont exercise orhaul on emptystomach 2 3 lbs hay
(alfalfa) prior toexercise
Provide hay intransit (alfalfa)
Training levelincreasedincrementally
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
15/25
Feeding horses with gastric ulcers Pharmaceutical therapy often necessary
Alfalfa hay at 5-6 h intervals, will provide bufferingeffect for up to 6 h
Pasture turnout or constant access to hay forchewing and constant feed in stomach Utilize a slow hay feeder, like nibble net
Feed smaller grain/concentrate meals fed morefrequently Do not with-hold feed before exercise
Do not go long periods with an empty stomach
Utilize slow grain feeders, like iFEED
Reduce stress as much as possible
Supplements- may help a little bit short term, but notshown to heal ulcers and must be given frequently inlarge amounts
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
16/25
Feeding Management
Options for feeding horses withulcers
Alfalfa, Alfalfa + Grass hay
Pasture and turn out Low Starch diets, minimize whole grains
Added fat sources for additionalcalories if needed
: WellSolve LS, Ultium, Strategy HealthyEdge, Equine Senior, Amplify
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
17/25
Relationship between Ulcers
and Electrolytes or Salt? The use of too many or frequent use of
electrolytes can acerbate ulcers
Utilizing salt and/or electrolytes irritate
ulcers even further Its like pouring salt into a wound
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
18/25
Horses dont have a tongue like a cowto consume enough from a block
Free-choice loose salt
Over-consumption from boredom Under-consumption due to taste
Horse owners dont realize their horses
are deficient in salt Salt and other electrolytes can irritate
ulcers
Concerns with Regular Salt &
Salt Blocks
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
19/25
Harsh taste so intake can bepoor
Some have high sugar contentto increase palatability andkeep retail price low
When added to water, canreduce water intake anddecrease hydration
Not balanced (dont replaceelectrolytes in proportions
typically lost in sweat) Can irritate ulcers, make
worse
Concerns with Traditional Electrolytes
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
20/25
Purina HydraSalt Great for horses sweating from heat, training
or moderate work
Smooth MicroBead Technology More consistent intake
Minty flavor
Gentle on the stomach/ulcers
Provides salt with no saltytaste
Better intake than blocks Promotes water intake
for proper hydration
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
21/25
Purina ElectroEase Great for horses sweating from heat,
competition, hard work Improved feed and electrolyte consumption
compared with competitor products
Replaces electrolytes in proportions typicallylost in sweat Na, Cl, K, Mg, Ca
MicroBead Technology More consistent intake
Minty flavor
Gentle on the stomach/ulcers Very low-sugar formula
Promotes water intake forproper hydration
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
22/25
Purina MicroBead Technology
The encapsulation in the fat helps enables it to bypass the
stomach and get absorbed into the small intestine
Also helps the product be tasteless for better consumption
S
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
23/25
Summary
Feed management of ulcers Reduce stress Provide constant access to forage & turnout
Pasture, and/or hay
Utilize alfalfa to help buffer the acid Never exercise or haul on an empty stomach
Feed low starch feeds and utilize fats for
calories if needed
Feed small meals frequently
If needing salt or electrolytes utilize the new
supplements that bypasses the stomach
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
24/25
Questions?
7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS
25/25
Thank You
Gina Fresquez, MS
Equine Nutrition Specialist
(206) 743 - 6453
www.ginawellness.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]Top Related