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Many horses receive medications or nutritional supplements to help manage joint discomfort associated with the prevalent joint disease osteoarthritis (OA). Some therapies designed for arthritic horses can be irritating to the stomach wall, potentially contributing to gastric ulcer development.
Per North American Supplement Council (NASC) regulations, joint supplements containing turmeric and devil’s claw, for instance, must have a caution on the label stating that these products can be gastrointestinal irritants.
During a presentation at the 2020 American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Convention, held virtually, Michael St. Blanc, DVM, from Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said such warnings raise the question of whether turmeric and devil’s claw contribute to the worsening of gastric ulcer scores in supplemented horses.