Horse Gastric Ulcer Treatment Across Riding Disciplines

Treatment of equine gastric ulcers requires discipline-specific approaches because risk factors and management conditions vary enormously between racing, sport, and leisure horses.

Key Facts

Omeprazole (GastroGard) is the only FDA-approved treatment for equine gastric ulcers in the US
Treatment duration is typically 28 days for squamous ulcers, but glandular ulcers may require 60-90 days
Sucralfate is often added for glandular ulcer treatment to coat and protect the glandular mucosa
Recurrence rates exceed 50% without management changes alongside pharmacological treatment
Racing horses on intensive training schedules show the highest recurrence rates due to persistent risk factors

Welfare Considerations

Untreated gastric ulcers cause chronic pain that affects every aspect of a horse's daily life - eating, movement, social interaction, and work. Horses trained through ulcer pain suffer compounded harm when behavioral changes are attributed to attitude problems rather than medical causes. Effective treatment must combine medication with management changes - more forage, less stress, regular turnout - or ulcers will recur. Horses in disciplines with the highest ulcer prevalence deserve proactive monitoring rather than waiting for clinical signs to emerge.

What You Can Do

Schedule gastroscopy for any horse showing performance changes, behavioral problems, or weight loss
Implement management changes alongside omeprazole treatment to reduce recurrence risk
Work with a veterinarian experienced in equine gastroenterology for complex or recurrent cases
Ensure all horses in training have continuous access to forage to buffer gastric acid
Monitor horses returning from competition or travel for signs of stress-related ulcer recurrence