Why Test Horses with the SUCCEED FBT?

Ulcers, colic and other digestive conditions are not just a problem in someone else’s barn – they are likely afflicting horses in yours as well. Competition horses are particularly at risk, and while the effects can be subtle they pose significant challenges to training and performance.

The Ulcer Problem is Widespread

The harsh reality is that the majority of performance horses in particular suffer from digestive health issues. While most of us are familiar with Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome, or stomach ulcers, it was only a few years ago that ulcers were also documented in the horse’s colon. It’s fairly common knowledge that performance horses are prone to ulcers. But research has shown that any horse is susceptible, even leisure horses.

In a study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 88% of performance horses were found to have stomach ulcers and 63% had colonic ulcers. Almost all the horses – 97% – had some type of digestive tract ulceration.

With the incidences this high, the chances are good that at least one of your horses is suffering from this condition.

ulcers gastric or colonic

The question then is … which one? And how much better could that horse be if it were healthy?

How Digestive Disease Impacts the Horse

Ulcers only represent the most well recognized and understood condition of the equine GI tract.

Colic, which is ultimately a symptom of underlying disease, hindgut inflammation, parasitism and other conditions are actually more common in horses than you may think.

There are the obvious signs that the horse’s digestive health is suffering. These signs can include:

  • Weight loss
  • Poor condition
  • Lack of appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Intermittent colic
Then there are the less obvious signs that are sometimes misattributed to training, lameness or other problems:

  • Lethargy and dullness
  • Unwillingness to bend, extend or collect
  • Stereotypes such as cribbing or weaving
  • Lack of focus
  • Intermittent hind end lameness

Individually any of these signs are cause for concern, together they more clearly signal the external impact of digestive distress in the horse. Horses that are less than healthy in their guts suffer in their overall well-being and in their ability to train and perform to their full potential.

Test First for Digestive Disease in Horses

Much like a thermometer measures temperature and a fever indicates the presence of a health problem, the SUCCEED Equine Fecal Blood Test detects occult blood loss that points to damage within the equine gastrointestinal tract.
Because the FBT is simple to use, affordable and non-invasive it’s an ideal first step in the diagnosis process for your veterinarian to either rule in the presence of digestive disease, such as gastric ulcers, colonic ulcers, colitis or other conditions. It is accurate and highly sensitive, particularly for detecting problems in the hindgut.