Gastric Ulcers in Horses

human stomach says Nieto in The Horse Report published by the Center for Equine Health School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis. The bottom part is glandular and secretes gastric acid. However this region also produces mucus and bicarbonate which protect the mucosa from acid exposure. So even though this region is also exposed to acid for several hours a day it is not a common place for ulcer formation. When ulcers do form in this region of the stomach they are usually secondary to chronic administration of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs NSAIDs. 
The top portion of the stomach is designed for mixing of the contents of the stomach and does not have as much protection from the acid. This is the most common place to find gastric ulcers. The lining of this section of the stomach is very thin and does not have many mechanisms for acid protection. Because the horses stomach produces gastric acid at all times even when not eating the squamous mucosa is exposed to acid several hours a day which can easily erode the lining of this region.
Gastric acid also called hydrochloric acid together with an enzyme called pepsin are needed for the digestion of food. Humans too need hydrochloric acid for digestion but it is produced when we eat. Horses however produce the acid all the time and on an empty stomach it can start to irritate the nonglandular section of the stomach.
NSAIDs such as phenylbutazine Bute or flunixin meglumine Banamine stop inflammation and pain by inhibiting prostaglandins which decrease blood flow to the stomach lining. This will in turn decrease the production of the mucus layer in the stomach and remove its protective layer making it more susceptible to the onset of ulcers. Not every horse reacts to nonsteroidal medications but the potential for side effects should be considered when medications are being recommended. 
Because of the horses need to eat small frequent meals his stomach is producing digestive acid constantly. Nieto says that the stomach can produce up to nine gallons of acidic fluid a day. This fluid is buffered by a high roughage diet and the horses own saliva which when swallowed helps to neutralize the stomach acid.
The problem with constant stall confinement is that a feeding schedule in which considerable time gaps occur between feedings can hamper a horses overall health. In addition if grain concentrates are given they can