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Home / Equine Research Bank / Transl Anim Sci / Effects of a dietary supplement on gastric ulcer number and ...
Translational animal science2018; 2(2); 119-124; doi: 10.1093/tas/txy005

Effects of a dietary supplement on gastric ulcer number and severity in exercising horses.

Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of a dietary supplement on the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Gastroscopy was performed on university riding horses of mixed breeds at two locations and only horses exhibiting gastric ulcers were selected to participate in this study (location A, n = 13; location B, n = 15). Gastric ulcer severity was assessed using two different methods depending on location before treatment (Pre). After gastroscopy, horses were fed the supplement in addition to their regular diet for 44 d (14-d adaptation period followed by 30-d feeding period). All horses were subjected to gastroscopy again at the end of the feeding period (Post) to evaluate changes in gastric lesions. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS. Individual horses were the experimental unit with dependent variables including severity and number of gastric ulcers. At location A, dependent variable included severity of gastric lesions with fixed effects of time (Pre and Post) and location (stall or pasture). For location B, dependent variables included severity and number of gastric lesions with fixed effects of time. Severity of gastric ulcers decreased at both locations in horses following the feeding period. Gastric lesion scores decreased from 2.2990 to 1.3760 (P = 0.0015) at location A and gastric lesion severity from 3.8000 to 2.5667 (P = 0.0322) at location B. No differences were found in gastric lesion scores at location A between horses housed in stalls or pastures (1.8750 and 1.8000; P = 0.7783). The number of gastric ulcers observed at location B were similar Pre and Post treatment (3.4667 and 3.5333; P = 0.8363). There were no changes in body condition score (P ≥ 0.2607), BW (P ≥ 0.4551), or behavior at either location. Results suggest that oral supplementation may decrease severity of gastric ulcers in horses participating in university riding programs.
© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-17 PubMed ID: 32704695PubMed Central: PMC7200479DOI: 10.1093/tas/txy005Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the impact of a dietary supplement on the count and severity of gastric ulcers in horses engaged in university riding programs. The study builds a case that additional supplementation can aid in reducing the severity of these ulcers.

Research Methodology

  • The study was conducted on university riding horses of mixed breeds from two different locations who were suffering from gastric ulcers.
  • A total of 13 horses from location A and 15 from location B participated in this research.
  • Prior to the introduction of the dietary supplement, the severity of the gastric ulcers in the horses was recorded via gastroscopy.
  • Post this recording, the involved horses were administered the supplement for a period of 44 days, the first 14 days serving as an adaptation period and the next thirty for the actual feeding period.
  • Upon completion of the supplement feeding period, the horses underwent another gastroscopy to assess changes to the gastric lesions.
  • Statistical analysis of the collected data was carried out using SAS.
  • Severity and number of gastric ulcers in individual horses served as the dependent variables of the experiment.

Research Findings

  • The severity of gastric ulcers across horses from both the locations was observed to have decreased following the supplement feeding period.
  • For horses at location A, the gastric lesion scores went down from 2.2990 to 1.3760, and from 3.8000 to 2.5667 for horses at location B.
  • No significant difference was observed in the scores of horses that were housed in stalls or pastures at location A.
  • The number of gastric ulcers witnessed at location B remained consistent before and after the treatment.
  • The body condition score, body weight and behavior of the horses remained unaltered across both the locations.

Conclusion

  • In light of the gathered results, the study concludes that oral supplementation can indeed be effective in reducing the severity of gastric ulcers in horses which are part of university riding programs.

Cite This Article

APA
Conner AL, Davis AJ, Porr CA. (2018). Effects of a dietary supplement on gastric ulcer number and severity in exercising horses. Transl Anim Sci, 2(2), 119-124. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txy005

Publication

Translational animal science
ISSN: 2573-2102
NlmUniqueID: 101738705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: 119-124

Researcher Affiliations

Conner, Alysia L
  • Department of Animal/Equine Science, Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, KY.
Davis, Amanda J
  • Department of Animal/Equine Science, Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, KY.
Porr, Cheryl A
  • Department of Animal/Equine Science, Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, KY.

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