Medications do not remove the underlying root cause of equine gastric ulcers

There are two different types of gastric ulcers, squamous disease (ESGD) and glandular disease (EGGD). The root causes behind these conditions are very different.

In squamous disease (ESGD), prevention requires sufficient roughage and short periods between meals. In glandular disease (EGGD), good overall management is essential. The horse must be able to express natural, species-specific behaviours.

How to help prevent squamous ulcer is to reduce concentrates and increase roughage intake. The more a horse chews hay or straw with his head down, the more saliva he produces, and saliva is the best natural buffer against stomach acid. Avoid long periods (over 4h) between meals, and feed your horse before exersice or transportation.

Preventing glandular ulcers is a different story, it's mainly about management and reducing stress. Your horse should be allowed to feel comfortable by letting him be a horse. Provide social time with other horses, use enrichment, and lots of turnout. Enrichment helps increase species-typical behaviour, which is a major factor in equine well-being.

So, how does the Fluffy Feeders help?

The Fluffy Feeder slows down eating exceptionally well and helps reduce the time between feedings. In addition, it encourages natural, species-typical behaviour.

The Fluffy Feeder slows down eating in 3 significant ways compared to traditional hay nets:

1. The feeder is mostly enclosed, and hay is only accessible through the grid on top
2. Time is spent rolling and moving the feeder
3. If hay is also distributed to other feeding stations, time is spent moving between them

This is especially important when talking about squamous disease (ESGD).

Fluffy Feeder also provides species-typical behaviour by:

1. Searching for food, because the feeder is mostly enclosed
2. Nibbling and pulling hay like when grazing
3. Eating with the head down (which also increases saliva production, important for squamous disease)
4. Moving while eating (since the feeder is freely placed on the ground)
5. Making decisions when offering loose hay together

These are super important to help prevent glandular disease (EGGD).

When a horse is able to behave based on their needs, it relieves stress. It becomes much easier for the horse to live in the environment we have chosen for him. The horse becomes more curious and easier to handle.

We highly recommend to offer loose hay together with the Fluffy Feeder, even in small amounts, so the horse can make decisions.

With medication, we can treat the horse, but we can’t fix the underlying problem. The issue must be addressed through proper management and feeding. The Fluffy Feeder is one of the easiest steps towards more species-appropriate feeding for horses.

Read more from Fluffy Feeders here!