Equine gastric ulcer treatment requires both pharmaceutical management and feeding strategy changes, with dietary modification being essential for lasting welfare improvement.
Equine gastric ulcer welfare is a case where pharmaceutical treatment alone provides temporary relief while failing to address the management causes that perpetuate the condition. A horse treated with omeprazole for 28 days who returns to the same management - restricted forage, large grain meals, extensive stabling - will typically re-ulcerate within weeks of stopping treatment, requiring repeated treatment courses and experiencing repeated cycles of pain. The welfare-optimal approach combines pharmaceutical treatment with lasting management change: increasing forage provision, reducing starch in the diet, allowing pasture access, and feeding before exercise. This addresses both the current welfare burden of ulceration and the management risk factors that cause it.