Effect of gastric ulceration on physiologic responses to exercise in horses.

This study examines the impacts of gastric ulcers on performance indices in racehorses during high-speed treadmill exercise. The researchers managed to effectively induce and maintain gastric ulcers in certain horses through alternating periods of feeding and exercise, and determined that these ulcers significantly hamper performance elements in these animals.

Research Methods and Objectives

• The primary objective of this study was to devise a method to bring about and sustain gastric ulceration in horses, and to evaluate the impact of such ulcers on performance outcomes during high-speed treadmill exercise.
• To achieve this, the researchers subjected 20 healthy thoroughbreds in different groups to varied treatments, exercises, and feeding patterns.
• The horses were initially adapted to treadmill exercise over a course of two weeks prior to gathering baseline data.
• Following the data collection, each horse embarked on an exercise regimen which gradually increased over the span of 56 days. During this period, they either received omeprazole (a medication to prevent gastric ulcers) or no drug at all.
• From the 14th day onwards, the horses were subjected to alternating 24-hour periods of feeding and not feeding for ten days to bring on gastric ulceration. The extent of ulceration was inspected weekly via a process called gastroscopy.

Key Findings

• The findings showed that without medication, gastric ulcers could be induced and maintained in horses till the 56th day.
• On the other hand, gastric ulcer development was prevented in horses that were treated with omeprazole.
• There were significant interactions discovered between time (pre- and post-training information) and treatment (non-ulcer and ulcer groups) for parameters such as mass-specific maximal oxygen consumption, and mass-specific maximal carbon dioxide production.
• A posthoc analysis revealed a notable difference between groups at the 56th day in terms of maximal oxygen consumption. Changes in parameters related to oxygen and carbon dioxide were reported for omeprazole-treated horses, but not for horses with ulcers.

Conclusion

• Thus, the study found that gastric ulcers in horses could be effectively induced and maintained using alternating periods of feeding and vigorous treadmill exercise, which mimics racetrack training.
• The presence of gastric ulcers was found to negatively affect performance indices in horses.