11/02/2026
๐ท ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ โ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐จ ๐ท
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต-๐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ด = ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐บ?
Fair Warningโ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ด ๐ข ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ. But that's because stomach ulcers deserve an in-depth conversation. So grab your coffee. Notepad. The email address of that dog vet you like who's willing to help you with your pig projectโ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ช๐ฏ.
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ช๐จ๐โฆ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐'๐จ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐๐ฏ๐ฎ.
The one that looks reasonably healthy, acts relatively hungry, walks up to the feeder, takes a few bites, and then walks away. Their hair growth might suck. Their belly never drops like you expected when the hammer dropped on sale day.
Maybe it's the gilt that slowly eats four pounds while her barnmates are eating six with vigor. Could be the barrow that was doing all the right things until that weekend chasing banners. Or maybe it's the pig that got sick really fast, actually recovered from the original illness, but two weeks later still hasn't gotten its appetite back.
Compounding the frustration, some of the popular genetics aren't exactly renowned for their productive traits. The kinds we gravitate toward often sort against rapid growth. When you want to show the same pig from April to November, something is going to give when it comes to production character.
So it can be easy to dismiss the picky eaters. The poor doers. Finicky barrows. High-maintenance divas.
And sometimes, they are.
But sometimes, we need to think critically and dig a little deeper.
Let's talk about gastric ulcers.
๐ช๐๐๐ง'๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐?
We're working with a monogastric digestive system, not unlike our own in many ways. A pig's stomach is designed to handle an incredibly acidic environment. But not every part of that stomach has the same protection.
Near the entrance to the stomach is an area called the ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐จ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐. Unlike the glandular portions of the stomach, this region doesn't have the same protective mucus barrier.
Under normal circumstances, the physical structure of feed within the stomach helps separate this sensitive region from the more acidic contents below.
But when stomach contents become excessively fluid, that protection begins to disappear.
Acid, bile, and digestive enzymes can come into contact with tissue that wasn't designed to withstand them.
Initially, the tissue may thicken and become roughened. With continued injury, cracks and erosions develop. Eventually, those erosions can progress into ulcers.
And here's an important distinction:
๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ก๐๐ข ๐๐จ๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ช๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐จ๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐ฉ.
๐ช๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ก?
Many of the things that make modern pig production efficient can also create conditions favorable to ulcer development.
Finely ground feeds improve digestibility and feed efficiency, but they also produce more fluid stomach contents. ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฎ.
Then we introduce the realities of managing competitive showpigs.
Think diet manipulation to optimize their ability to catch pens. The stress of the haul. Mixing pigs from different sources. Training them to eat on schedules. We push growth, adjust intake, manage weight, and sometimes ask pigs to go longer between meals than their stomachs would prefer.
๐๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด.
Respiratory infections, fever, heat stress, and other diseases can interrupt feed intake. That interruption can increase ulcer risk, sometimes while we're concentrating on treating the original problem.
None of these factors guarantees an ulcer.
But taken together, they create a compelling picture of why we might be seeing what we're seeing.
One of the most important protective factors against gastric ulcers is consistent feed intake.
When you've got a finicky one, that's worth remembering the next time you're tempted to withhold feed to make a pig hungry enough to eat.
๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ญ๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ก๐ฆ
Here's where ulcers become frustrating.
Many pigs with gastric lesions show no obvious clinical signs at all.
Others may show subtle changes that are easy to dismiss:
- Taking longer to finish meals or leaving feed behind.
- A previously aggressive eater becoming inconsistent.
- Reduced daily gain despite an otherwise normal appearance.
- Apparent discomfort around feeding, occasionally accompanied by teeth grinding or a hunched posture.
- Vomiting or regurgitation, particularly in chronic cases.
These signs are not specific to ulcers. Respiratory disease, feed quality, environmental stress, and numerous other problems can produce similar behavior.
But a persistent change in eating habits deserves investigation.
๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ
Gastric ulcers aren't always a minor inconvenience that we can fix with a little stomach medicine.
An ulcer can erode into a blood vessel and cause catastrophic hemorrhage.
Chronic blood loss can result in anemia, poor growth, weakness, and declining performance.
Repeated cycles of injury and healing can also produce scar tissue around the entrance to the stomach. In severe cases, that scarring can narrow the opening and interfere with the passage of feed.
That's a particularly difficult problem because healing the active ulcer doesn't necessarily reverse the structural damage that's already occurred.
Some pigs recover beautifully.
Others never quite return to the performance we expected.
And some don't survive.
I think it's important to be candid about that, because early intervention matters, but prevention matters even more.
๐ฆ๐ข ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก ๐ช๐ ๐๐ข?
First, understand that treating an ulcer and managing the conditions that created it are two different responsibilities.
๐ญ. ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ.
Omeprazole, the active ingredient in products such as GastroGard and UlcerGard, is a proton-pump inhibitor. It suppresses stomach acid production and can create a more favorable environment for healing.
Famotidine, commonly known as Pepcid AC, also reduces acid production, although it works through a different mechanism and generally provides less complete suppression.
Both are medications worth discussing with your veterinarian when ulceration is suspected.
These products are not interchangeable, and equine or human formulations should not be assumed appropriate for food-producing pigs. Drug selection, administration, duration, and withdrawal requirements need veterinary oversight.
๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ท๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ.
Sucralfate is another prescription medication we may want our veterinary provider to consider. Rather than suppressing acid production, it acts locally to help protect damaged mucosal surfaces.
It's a different approach, and in selected cases may complement acid suppression.
Antacids, including calcium carbonate products such as Tums, can temporarily neutralize stomach acid.
But temporary acid neutralization shouldn't be confused with comprehensive ulcer treatment.
๐ฏ. ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ด ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ปโ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
For a pig with suspected ulceration, I often favor smaller, more frequent meals over large meals separated by prolonged fasting.
Focus on palatability. Tuna can be a lifeline in some situations, but remember, every pig is different. And part of astute barn management is knowing what every pig loves before they go off feed in the first place.
A palatable wet mash may encourage intake, particularly in pigs recovering from illness.
Feed texture matters, too. Excessively fine, dusty feeds can contribute to ulcer development, while a more coarsely ground ration may help reduce that risk.
Fiber sources such as oats may have a place in an adjusted feeding program, although they are not a substitute for a properly balanced ration or medical treatment.
Fresh water, adequate feeder access, and a comfortable environment are essential.
And perhaps most importantly, we need to identify why the pig quit eating in the first place.
If respiratory disease, stress, or another underlying problem is still present, stomach medications alone won't solve the problem.
๐ฐ. ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are valuable tools, and sometimes absolutely necessary.
But NSAIDs such as flunixin (Banamine) can carry substantial gastrointestinal risks, particularly in compromised or dehydrated animals. Corticosteroids (Dex, PreDef, Depo) also deserve careful deliberation and veterinary consultation when appetite is off.
Okay, literally all prescription medications should be administered under the direction of a veterinary professional.
๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
Because this doesn't mean we should avoid treating pain, fever, or inflammation.
It means we should recognize that every pharmaceutical decision involves balancing benefits against risks.
๐๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ข ๐ค๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ท๐ฆ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐บ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ง๐ช๐ณ๐ฆ.
๐ฑ. ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐
.
Reduce unnecessary mixing and competition. Provide adequate feeder space. Keep pigs at comfortable temperatures. Avoid abrupt feed changes and prolonged interruptions in feed availability.
For pigs that have struggled with appetite or recurrent suspected ulceration, a quieter environment and more consistent feeding routine may accomplish more than a fistful of pills, three stabs in the neck, or withholding feed until they "get hungry."
Commercial gut-health products, probiotics, and appetite-support additives may have a place in a management program.
But even so, we need to be careful not to mistake a product marketed for gut health for one proven to heal a gastric ulcer.
๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ?
A pig that repeatedly regurgitates feed or continues to lose condition despite treatment is begging for a closer look. Chronic scarring and narrowing at the stomach entrance can complicate recovery.
When we've moved into a pig with pale mucous membranes, severe weakness, collapse, black tarry manure, or evidence of significant blood loss, we are way, way behind.
Severe hemorrhage can overwhelm a pig's ability to compensate, and many cases carry a grave prognosis despite treatment. In the practical realities of showpig medicine, these are often pigs we lose.
๐๐ก ๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐.
I think one of the hardest parts of raising showpigs is recognizing when the problem we're trying to fix isn't the problem we actually have.
We see a pig falling behind and think it needs more feed.
We see a pig eating inconsistently and think it needs more discipline.
We see a pig coming off an illness and assume it just needs another day or two.
๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต'๐ด ๐ต๐ณ๐ถ๐ฆ.
But sometimes, the pig is telling us something.
The reality is that ulcers are common, often silent, and occasionally devastating. They can develop quickly, and some lesions can heal quickly when conditions improve.
Our responsibility is to recognize the risk factors, listen to changes in behavior, and make management decisions that support the animal before we're forced into crisis management.
๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐
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โ Jett the Vet, Eder Veterinary Enterprises, LLC
