If you suspect your horse has ulcers, chances are he does. Studies have indicated that around 50% of pleasure horses have gastric ulcers while about 90% of competing horses have them.
While the only way to know for sure if your horse has ulcers is to have a gastroscopy (which typically costs between $300-500), there are some symptoms you can look for and take steps to help heal and prevent future ulcers.
Symptoms of ulcers
- Your horse is "girthy" - that is to say your horse is sensitive to having the saddle cinch or girth tightened. You may notice he tenses up and pins his ears. This is an indication of discomfort and may be due to gastric ulcers.
- Change in behavior - your horse has had a change in disposition and just seems more grumpy.
- Weight loss - if the ulcers are causing pain he'll be less likely to eat as much as he should.
- Lack of energy
If you suspect your horse has ulcers, be sure to check with your veterinarian to come up with a solid treatment plan as well as a plan to prevent ulcers from occurring in the future.
We recommend adding MagnaGard Gastric Support to your feed to help prevent and relieve ulcers in your horse. Learn more>>>