How to soothe horse gastric ulcers with clay? Can clay be used to treat horse ulcers? How does it act on the walls of the digestive system? How can it be used effectively? And finally, what are the other natural remedies to relieve a horse’s ulcer?
I. Brief Reminder of Equine Gastric Ulcers
Gastric ulcers often develop in horses, especially in racehorses.
It is an erosion, where the mucous membrane of the stomach is gradually degraded by gastric acids.
There are many causes of an ulcer in the horse’s stomach. Stress is one of them, as well as intense exercise. This second reason explains why competition horses are more often affected by this type of ailment.
Gastrophil larvae, parasites that can be found in the stomach, can also cause an ulcer.
Certain drug treatments, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, can also be the cause of this condition. Food, especially if it is high in grain, can also irritate the stomach lining and cause an ulcer.
Symptoms of ulcers in horses include hyper-salivation, fatigue, signs of colic especially after meals, and bruxism.
Generally, a horse with an ulcer is in a worse physical condition. Its appearance also suffers the consequences. You may notice that the animal’s coat has lost its luster, for example.
Moreover, ulcers are also a very painful condition.
II. What Are the Different Types of Clay for Gastric Ulcer in Horses
# Bentonite Clay
It is possible to use bentonite clay to treat your horse’s ulcers. All you have to do is add bentonite clay to your horse’s daily ration.
Bentonite clay is a green-colored clay and is rich in minerals. It helps horses not only in case of digestive problems but also in case of sprains or muscular pains.
Green clay helps to heal the horse’s ulcers. Normally, within a few days, you will see positive results. It is a natural gastric dressing, but it remains essential to act on the causes of your horse’s ulcer.
# White Clay
White clay is very well tolerated by horses’ bodies. You can give them to drink, by mixing clay in water. But you can also let your horse lick the white clay.
It is soft clay, which will soothe your animal’s stomach problems. Like bentonite clay, white clay can act in case of pain.
When used internally, do not overdose the white clay, as your horse may suffer from constipation.
III. How to Soothe Horse Gastric Ulcers with Clay
# Is Clay Safe for Horses?
Clay has long been used to soothe horses in pain. Whether it is white clay or green clay, clay can soothe inflammation, help with sprains or even act on gastric problems in horses.
To use it in the best way, don’t hesitate to consult a veterinarian, who will help you find the right dosage.
Clay is not known to be dangerous for horses, but for best results, clay should be used differently depending on your horse’s problem.
It can be consumed by the animal or used externally as a poultice or plaster. It all depends on your horse and its problem.
# How Does Clay Work Against Gastric Ulcers
Clay is a rock that has many actions on organisms, whether they are humans or animals. It has always been used for its many virtues.
One of its virtues is to have an anti-inflammatory action, which allows it to soothe the pain. In the case of a horse’s ulcer, for example, the use of clay can relieve your animal’s pain. Green clay in particular.
When consumed and used, clay can act on the stomach as a natural gastric dressing. It can form a kind of paste on the mucous membrane of the stomach and cover the ulcer.
At this level, the absorbent properties of clay can act to improve things. These properties allow the clay to drain out of the body the toxins that can infect it.
Knowing that ulcers can cause infection, and can be caused by parasites, the use of clay can therefore be useful. In addition, white clay can prevent microbes from growing in the body.
As a cleanser of the intestinal tract, clay acts on the gastrointestinal mucosa.
White clay is the most digestible of all clays and is ideal for natural healing. The ulcer is like a wound. Thus, once consumed, clay can help your horse in its healing process.
# How to Use Clay to Relieve Horse Gastric Ulcers
To use white clay for your horse’s health, you can for example do it as a cure. Although it is beneficial to the horse’s body, clay must be used with care. A 3-week cure is the right amount of time for a treatment.
Clay can be used against ulcers. You can use not only bentonite clay but also green clay.
Clays can be used in powder or crushed form. To fight equine ulcers, clay is ingested.
Avoid administering clay with metal instruments. Metal instruments can negate the effects of this powder.
a) horse Licking Clay
Clay can be used internally on your horse, especially if your horse is suffering from gastric disorders.
Licking the clay is one way to make your horse consume clay easily.
To do this, nothing could be simpler. Put some clay in your hand and offer it to your horse as if it were a treat. The clay should be in powdered form to make it easier for your pet to lick.
It’s a healthy snack that will give your pet a lot.
You can also make a licking stone by mixing 1 kg of salt, 2 kg of lithothamnion, and 500 kg of clay. Add water and let it dry until it becomes hard as a rock.
You can put it at your horse’s disposal so that he can lick it when he feels like it.
b) Drinking Clay
It is also possible, for internal use of clay in your horse, to make him drink clay water.
The advantage of clay water is that it is a simple way to introduce the clay into your animal’s body. In addition, clay water retains all the properties of clay as long as it is properly prepared.
Provide your pet with two containers of water. In the first one, it will be simple water, while in the second one, you will have added clay powder to the water.
Mix 22 grams of clay with ¼ liter of water and shake vigorously. Then let the mixture sit and pour it into your horse’s drinking water.
Do this for 3 weeks and twice a year, also leaving pure water available for your horse to choose from.
# Dosage
You can mix 22 grams of white clay in ¼ liter of water. Put it in a bottle and shake well, then let it sit for about 30 seconds. After that, give the clay water to your horse.
You can put it in the ration or his drinking water.
About 20 ml of white clay can be added to your horse’s feed ration.
If you give green clay to your horse, you can give him a tablespoon ¼ hour before each meal, twice a day.
Another option is to put crushed green clay in your horse’s drinking water.
# How Long Does It Take for Clay to Work?
If you apply clay externally to your horse, leave it on for an hour or two. Some people even leave the clay on for 24 hours. It all depends on the desired effect and the method used.
It is difficult to know how long the clay will act on the horse. Different factors must be taken into account, such as the type of problem. But it is important to use clay often enough to see results, at least until your animal’s condition has improved.
# Can Drinking Clay Relieve Your Horse of Daily Stress?
Stress in horses can be managed in different ways. Although the effects of clay consumption on horse stress are not known, clay does act on some symptoms of stress.
For example, stomach ulcers are a common sign of stress. The consumption of clay by your horse helps to fight against stomach ulcers.
Thus, clay is useful to limit the manifestations of stress in your horse. Clay helps digestion and treats the various gastric ailments that can be linked to stress in your animal.
III. Other Natural Remedies to Treat the Horse’s Gastric Ulcer
# Hay and Rest
Hay is used between meals to prevent the horse from going too long without eating. Prolonged fasting is indeed one of the causes of stomach ulcers.
Fiber-rich forage acts as a buffer on the intestinal walls while allowing the horse to secrete bicarbonate-rich saliva. This saliva composition helps neutralize acidity.
For the health of your horse, it is also important that your horse rests as much as possible. Rest your horse for a week. This will help your horse avoid acid reflux. During this time, your horse will not have to do any physical exercise.
This will not only reduce the stress on your horse, but also the risk to his stomach.
# Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has a soothing effect on the intestinal wall and digestive tract. In addition, the consumption of this plant can help fight against microbes and fungi.
As a preventive measure, you can give your horses 100 ml of aloe vera per day. Do this twice a day, preferably before meals, for an amount of time of one or three months.
To allow the ulcer to heal, you can give 200 ml per day, in two doses, and outside of meals. Do this for one month, and then 100 ml of aloe vera per day for another month.
# Comfrey
You can use comfrey leaves to help your horse if it has a stomach ulcer.
This plant can soothe and heal the walls of the digestive system.
Comfrey is available as dried leaves, tinctures, or concentrated extracts.
It is easy to obtain in a pharmacy or organic stores. Ask your veterinarian for advice. He or she will probably help you decide how to use comfrey leaves to heal your horse’s ulcer.
However, it is important not to overuse comfrey. Avoid feeding it to your horse for too long.
# Baking Soda
Baking soda is an antacid. Give 200 g per feeding, especially after a meal that contains whole grains. The action of baking soda will eliminate the action of acids.
Taking baking soda will bring relief to your sick horse.
# Diatomaceous Earth for Horse Ulcers
Diatomaceous earth is a sedimentary rock extracted from natural quarries without any chemical transformation.
It has many uses, both as an insecticide and for the health of horses.
Diatomaceous earth is very well known for fighting worms in horses. It is used as a dewormer by many owners, at a rate of 2 to 3 tablespoons of diatomaceous earth per ration.
By doing this for 15 days, both curatively and preventively, we avoid the appearance of worms and thus, ulcers. Ulcers can be a consequence of worms in horses.
Useful Links:
Bentonite Clay for Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain?
Are There any Dangers of Bentonite Clay?
Benefits of Bentonite Clay and Apple Cider Vinegar [poultice & mask]