Digestive problems in horses

Digestive problems in horses

Disturbances of a horse’s gastrointestinal tract are a common issue, as shown by various studies. With good management these problems are often easy to prevent, but unfortunately not always. In those cases, it’s good to know there is a supplement that supports the functioning of the digestive system. Voermeesters Maag & Darm has proven especially effective in recovering from and preventing watery manure, as well as reducing the effects of gastric ulcers.

Causes of digestive problems

“Research shows that in trotting and racing disciplines, around 90% of horses suffer from gastric ulcers. Among sport horses in general, about 60% struggle with gastrointestinal problems,” explains our nutritionist Wendy Warmerdam.

Several digestive problems may occur. Wendy outlines the most common ones:
“If we start at the front, you sometimes see issues with teeth and molars. Ulcers can develop in the stomach, while in the small intestine inflammations may occur. In the large intestine, colic-like symptoms are possible, and watery manure is another common problem.”

The causes of digestive problems are diverse. “Usually there isn’t just one single cause,” says Wendy. “Often, several factors play a role. Nutrition is a major one, but stress is also an important trigger in horses.”

Recognising digestive problems

According to Wendy, attentive owners can often pick up the signs.
“When a horse has poor teeth or molars, you often see wads of roughage being chewed and spat out. This doesn’t only happen in older horses; younger horses with dental problems can also produce these forage balls.In the case of a gastric ulcer, the horse may look less cheerful. It often shows resistance when you brush near the girth or saddle area, and can become irritable when the girth is tightened.
A horse experiencing a severe colic episode will throw itself to the ground, whereas lighter intestinal issues are less obvious. Still, these horses are often more sensitive in the belly area. The quality of the manure also provides important information for the horse owner.”