equine ulcer prevention and care through feeding - presentation by gina fresquez, ms

7/27/2019 Equine Ulcer Prevention and Care Through Feeding - Presentation by Gina Fresquez, MS

1/25

ULCER PREVENTION & CARE

THROUGH FEEDING


2/25

Gina Fresquez, MSTechnical Equine Nutrition SpecialistPurina Animal Nutrition

www.ginawellness.com


3/25

Understand the Stomach Very small in size, 8% of gut, 2-4 gallons

HCl acid is secreted cont inuous ly 1 quarts/hr

Noabsorption of nutrients in stomach

Most feed passes through in 30 min. The larger the meal, the faster the emptying

Smallmeals

frequently


4/25

Up to 90% of Racing TBs

58% of Show Horses

Are Gastric Ulcers a Problem?


5/25

GastricUlcersContributing Factors High-grain diets - Starch

Volatile fatty acids (fermentation) produced

Decreased pH

Grazing deprivation and/or low forage diet Less buffering of excess acid by salivary bicarbonate

Periods of fasting Long periods without feed in the stomach gastric

hyperacidity Exercise/Training/Hauling added stress


6/25

Exercise-Associated

Gastric Ulcers

Abdominal pressure causing HydrochloricAcid and refluxed bile acids to splash onto

squamous mucosa is ulcerogenic


7/25

Non-glandular

or

Squamous

Glandular

Duodenum

HIGH DENSITY LIQUID

pH 1-2

revised from Schummer et al., 1979

RED ARROWS

indicate

increasedabdominal

pressure

Courtesy of Dr. Al Merritt


8/25

Exercise/Training/Hauling

Bag volume reduced nearly to 0 whentrotting and galloping, back to pre-

exercise volume when back to a walk

Gastric pH ~ 4 at the walk anddecreased further during trot and

gallop, stayed low until returned to

walk

Lorenzo-Figueras, 2002, Am. J. Vet. Res. 63:1481


9/25


Simulated show/training environment

10 Control No travel or training

10 Hauled d 1 hauled 4 hr, housed in

stalls, fed 2X/day, exercised 2X/day, 3

days, d 4 hauled back

No ulcers on d 0

7 Hauled horses had ulcers on d 5 2 Control horses had ulcers on d 5

McClure, et al., 2005. JAVMA 227:775


10/25


1 (pre-

training)

2 (6 wk

training)

3 (12 wk

training)

Number of horses in each group with

gastric ulcers

EX group 0/8 1/8 5/7

CON group 0/6 0/6 0/6

Gordon et al.,

ECEP 2006


11/25

Gastric Ulcers

Do feeding practicescontribute to problem?

Ulcers VERY RARE inhorses kept at pasture

With performance

horses, ulcers can

contribute to poor

performance, mostlybecause of poor

appetite and weight

loss.


12/25

Forage: Alfalfa Hay

Alf:Grain vs. Brome Hay only Alf:Grain = Increased gastric pH thru

5 hr post feeding and # and severityof non-glandular lesions was lower

Alf:Grain vs Bermuda:Grain

(exercise 3x/week)

Alf:Grain = lower ulcer scores, 11horses improved ulcer scores by 2grades

Nadeau, et.al., 2000. Am. J. Vet. Res.61:784


13/25

Alfalfa: Love or Hate?

5 6 hour buffering capability


14/25

Reduce Risk of Gastric Ulcers

Dont exercise orhaul on emptystomach 2 3 lbs hay

(alfalfa) prior toexercise

Provide hay intransit (alfalfa)

Training levelincreasedincrementally


15/25

Feeding horses with gastric ulcers Pharmaceutical therapy often necessary

Alfalfa hay at 5-6 h intervals, will provide bufferingeffect for up to 6 h

Pasture turnout or constant access to hay forchewing and constant feed in stomach Utilize a slow hay feeder, like nibble net

Feed smaller grain/concentrate meals fed morefrequently Do not with-hold feed before exercise

Do not go long periods with an empty stomach

Utilize slow grain feeders, like iFEED

Reduce stress as much as possible

Supplements- may help a little bit short term, but notshown to heal ulcers and must be given frequently inlarge amounts


16/25

Feeding Management

Options for feeding horses withulcers

Alfalfa, Alfalfa + Grass hay

Pasture and turn out Low Starch diets, minimize whole grains

Added fat sources for additionalcalories if needed

: WellSolve LS, Ultium, Strategy HealthyEdge, Equine Senior, Amplify


17/25

Relationship between Ulcers

and Electrolytes or Salt? The use of too many or frequent use of

electrolytes can acerbate ulcers

Utilizing salt and/or electrolytes irritate

ulcers even further Its like pouring salt into a wound


18/25

Horses dont have a tongue like a cowto consume enough from a block

Free-choice loose salt

Over-consumption from boredom Under-consumption due to taste

Horse owners dont realize their horses

are deficient in salt Salt and other electrolytes can irritate

ulcers

Concerns with Regular Salt &

Salt Blocks


19/25

Harsh taste so intake can bepoor

Some have high sugar contentto increase palatability andkeep retail price low

When added to water, canreduce water intake anddecrease hydration

Not balanced (dont replaceelectrolytes in proportions

typically lost in sweat) Can irritate ulcers, make

worse

Concerns with Traditional Electrolytes


20/25

Purina HydraSalt Great for horses sweating from heat, training

or moderate work

Smooth MicroBead Technology More consistent intake

Minty flavor

Gentle on the stomach/ulcers

Provides salt with no saltytaste

Better intake than blocks Promotes water intake

for proper hydration


21/25

Purina ElectroEase Great for horses sweating from heat,

competition, hard work Improved feed and electrolyte consumption

compared with competitor products

Replaces electrolytes in proportions typicallylost in sweat Na, Cl, K, Mg, Ca

MicroBead Technology More consistent intake

Minty flavor

Gentle on the stomach/ulcers Very low-sugar formula

Promotes water intake forproper hydration


22/25

Purina MicroBead Technology

The encapsulation in the fat helps enables it to bypass the

stomach and get absorbed into the small intestine

Also helps the product be tasteless for better consumption

S


23/25

Summary

Feed management of ulcers Reduce stress Provide constant access to forage & turnout

Pasture, and/or hay

Utilize alfalfa to help buffer the acid Never exercise or haul on an empty stomach

Feed low starch feeds and utilize fats for

calories if needed

Feed small meals frequently

If needing salt or electrolytes utilize the new

supplements that bypasses the stomach


24/25

Questions?


25/25

Thank You

Gina Fresquez, MS

Equine Nutrition Specialist

(206) 743 - 6453

[email protected]

www.ginawellness.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

equine ulcer prevention and care through feeding - presentation by gina fresquez, ms

Documents