Studies on EOC® as an Ulcer Treatment
At Southern Equine Distributing, we stand behind our products. We truly believe that Equine Omega Complete® is the best choice for horses of all kinds, of all ages, and of all disciplines. In particular, we believe that EOC® is the best choice for horses suffering from reduced joint mobility due to age, injury, and inflammation and horses suffering from common digestive issues such as ulcers.
Many horses suffer from gastric ulcers, especially those participating in competitive sports. These ulcers can form in different areas in the stomach:
- Squamous ulcers occur in the upper squamous tissue of the stomach,
- Pyloric ulcers form in the pylorus, the opening in the lower portion of the stomach into the small intestine, and
- Glandular ulcers form in the lower glandular portion of the stomach
The downside of traditional treatments
Traditional treatments for all types of gastric ulcers can be time-consuming depending on the location and severity of the ulcer and are costly to the horse owner. They are challenging to carry out according to instructions which often require the stomach to be empty and the treatment administered 30 minutes or more before food is given. This can be particularly difficult for owners who board their horses.
Additionally, there is always a risk that ulcers can return. Whether it’s a horse’s nervous personality, an inability to deal with stress, or need to be on other medications that increase the risk of ulcers, many owners will likely treat ulcers more than once during their horse’s life, repeating the costly, time-consuming process.
Studies on improving protection from ulcers
Previous studies looked at:
- Supplements that strengthen the tissue of the stomach to improve its resistance to ulceration;
- Supplements that buffer stomach acid to reduce the risk of this acidity; and
- Coating agents that cover the tissue to create a barrier against erosion
Recently published research on polyunsaturated fats documented that horses supplemented with long-chain polyunsaturated fats (such as Equine Omega Complete®) showed a reduction in severe ulcer prevalence (notation 1). This information further supports the results of previous studies that have concluded that supplementation with short- and long-chain polyunsaturated fats results in an increase in the levels of prostanoids, which are lipid mediators that regulate the inflammatory response.
1. Pagan, J. D., Hauss, A. A., Pagan, E. C., Simons, J. L., & Waldridge, B. M. (2002). Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation increases levels in red blood cells and reduces the prevalence and severity of squamous gastric ulcers in exercised Thoroughbreds, Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, 260(S3), S121-S128.
Why horse owners should consider EOC® in treatment and prevention of ulcers
It is now generally accepted that glandular and pyloric ulcers are harder to treat because they are constantly bathed in acid due to their location and may take up to 60 days or longer to resolve. Previous studies have shown that glandular ulcers can be treated with polyunsaturated fats such as those contained in Equine Omega Complete®. A recent study published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association showed that administering polyunsaturated fat (such as those contained in Equine Omega Complete®’s patented blend) to horses with squamous ulcers – and the more difficult glandular ulcers – showed healing within just 14 days.
Taken together, one can see that Equine Omega Complete®’s patented blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can aid in the treatment of all three types of ulcers while also reducing the healing period by up to 75 percent.
The importance of EOC®'s patented blend of polyunsaturated fatty acids
Equine Omega Complete® contains non-GMO soy oil, which is made up of linoleic acid, a short-chain polyunsaturated fat that has been found to help horses prone to glandular gastric ulcers. EOC® also contains long-chain PUFAs docosapentaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EHA), better known as omega-3 and omega-6.
Research recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association shows that horses supplemented with EOC®’s blend of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids showed a reduction in severe ulcer prevalence by up to 30 percent when compared to the control horses (notation 2).
2. IBID.
Case studies on the effects of EOC® in horses with ulcers
Horse One: 13-year-old Warmblood Gelding
Horse One was diagnosed with pyloric ulcers and placed on 4oz of Equine Omega Complete® twice a day for 4 weeks and rescoped. His pyloris was found to be improved, and while not yet completely healed, his attitude was reported to have returned to normal without a relapse to his prior anxious, neurotic behaviour that was occurring prior to starting the oil.
Further gastroscopy one month later revealed no active ulcers at the pylorus with only a slightly thickened glandular fold, and the previous lesion appeared stable and inactive.
Horse Two: 11-year-old Warmblood Mare
Horse Two presented with recurrent squamous gastric ulcers and mild colic. After treatment for a month with Gastrogard, the squamous ulcers had resolved, but the pyloric inflammation remained. She was placed on 2 oz of Equine Omega Complete® twice daily for a month with no further Gastrogard in the hopes of keeping the squamous ulcers from returning and resolving the pyloric inflammation.
When scoped one month later, no squamous ulcers were found, and the previous pyloric inflammation had also resolved.
Horse Three: 8-year-old Warmblood Gelding
Horse Three was diagnosed with Grade 2 Squamous ulcers and Grade 1 glandular ulcers. He was given 3 oz of Equine Omega Complete® twice a day for a month and reevaluated. His owners reported that while he was still kicking out to the leg in canter, this behaviour had resolved in walk and trot.
A second gastroscopy revealed that the squamous ulcers had fully resolved, and only focal acute glandular erosion was visible. The vet stated that the significance of this erosion was questionable, but Horse Three has remained on the Equine Omega Complete® for another month and will be re-scoped shortly.
All three horses showed favourable responses to the Equine Omega Complete®. Case studies are ongoing but combined with the research published on the benefits of long and short-chain polyunsaturated fats in supporting gastric health in horses; this product appears to provide excellent support for gastric health and regulating other inflammatory processes faced by today’s sport horses.
Those needing higher levels of vitamin E will find all the same benefits of polyunsaturated in Equine Omega Vitamin E®.