Study Finds Commercial Beet Pulp/Alfalfa/Oat Mix Helpful For Equine Ulcers

Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) in horses refers to ulcers in the upper (squamous) region of the stomach caused by sustained exposure to acid. Omeprazole combined with management changes is a common treatment and prevention plan for ESGD. However, feedstuffs may help protect the stomach lining by creating a mucus-like gel or buffering the acid. Researchers in the United Kingdom aimed to determine whether feeding a commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fiber mix aids in ESGD healing and/or prevention of recurrence.

The researchers identified ten adult horses (12 ± 4 years) with naturally occurring ESGD confirmed through gastroscopy. They randomly assigned half of the horses to a commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fiber mix (2.2 lbs daily) with their usual diet. Additionally, the researchers treated all the horses with omeprazole for one month following the attending veterinarian's recommendation. Nine horses received 4 mg/kg of omeprazole weekly by intramuscular injection and one horse received 4 mg/kg daily by mouth. At the end of the first month, the researchers scoped the horses again. Horses that completely healed were taken off omeprazole. The commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fiber mix was fed to all horses for another month to assess prevention of ESGD recurrence. The researchers scoped the horses again after the second month. The ulcers were graded on a 0 (no ulcers) to 4 (severe ulcers) scale. 

Prior to treatment, 60 percent of the horses had grade 2 ulcers, 30 percent had grade 3, and 10 percent had grade 4. After one month, ESGD had healed (grade 0) in all of the horses. During the second month, ESGD recurred in three of the five horses that did not receive the commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fiber mix for the first month of the study. Recurrent ulcers ranged from grade 2 to 4 in severity. None of the horses that were fed the commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fiber mix from the start had recurring ulcers.

These results suggest that the commercial beet pulp/alfalfa/oat fiber mix helped prevent the recurrence of ESGD when fed during and after the healing stage. Additional research is needed to determine the long term effects of feedstuffs in preventing ESGD recurrence and to evaluate other factors that may contribute to ESGD. Common feedstuffs like beet pulp and alfalfa may serve as a potential alternative to drugs for preventing ESGD in horses.

For more information on this research, read the abstract published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Sciences.