2.5 year old, attitude or ulcers?

[Velvet turner]

My homebred 2.5 yo is a cross between a dragon and an angel, she is a mare so i am not surprised but i wondered if anyone had the same thing? I cannot figure out if she is just being a mare or if its ulcers.

She is a complete dope on the rope, chilled out, lets me pick all feet up, will stand being brushed and faffed, leads out fine etc but when it comes to putting a rug on and doing it up (for experience), or asking her to move over, or any pressure on her side, she pins her ears back and trys to bite. i correct her and keep working on it but i cant tell if shes being marish or its ulcers. I dont want to put her through being starved and scoped for nothing.

She is out in a mixed herd, is bottom of the pecking order in the field.

Apart from this her manners are impeccable, she backs up when entering her stable, doesnt pull, push, barge, walk over you. She loves people and is always the first one over when called, which is why io find it strange that some things make her turn into a beast!

Has anyone had similar before?

 

[Patterdale]

Everything you say points to specific discomfort of some sort, in her general abdomen/side/back area.

You will get many different views but personally I would do two things. First I would give her bute for a few days and see if it improves. If it does - pain. Then get appropriate diagnostics.

I would also then do a trial of omeprazole. If it improves within 2-3 weeks - you can safely assume probably ulcer related, and continue the omeprazole.

Things to consider - neither of these measures are complete diagnostic/treatment plans in their own right. What they will do, is give you more information.
Secondly, if you do see a marked improvement with omeprazole, great. But that’s not the end of the matter, because ulcers are almost always a symptom rather than a problem which just appears out of the blue.

So yes, personally I’d do a bute and omeprazole trial (separately). But I would assume this is caused by pain somewhere, and be prepared to get the vet at some point.

 

[Tiddlypom]

A bute trial will also make the pain from ulcers worse, which is actually a useful indicator. I would do it under a vet’s supervision, though.

My mare, who turned out eventually to have hind gut ulcers, went from being grumpy to being full on dangerous to handle on a vet suggested bute trial. The bute had aggravated them. She returned to being just grumpy after I stopped the bute.

I’m not suggesting doing a bute trial to test for ulcers, just to be aware of what a deterioration in behaviour on bute rather than an improvement might mean.

 

[Goldenstar]

I think I would start with a trial of gastroguard .
You can add in a bute trial later if you think it’s appropriate.
Some foals develop ulcers very young .

 

[maya2008]

Has she always been like that? As in, from a foal? Or is this new?

If new, is she being bullied at the bottom of the herd - is it being run correctly by whichever horse is in charge? If it is, no bullying would be allowed, everyone would know their place and things would be calm. If lead horse not quite up to the job, everyone becomes stressed and those at the bottom suffer most.

I would remove from that herd/situation if this is not her normal temperament, get a vet check (because it is perfectly possible for youngsters to hurt themselves trying to get away from aggressive herd mates) and get her into a safer environment. No point treating any ulcers without treating the cause - pain or stress. They just come back otherwise, and gastroguard costs enough as it is without having to do it more than once!!

 

[PSD]

I have a yearling who was similar (but she doesn’t wear rugs) she was grumpy when picking up back feet and being asked to move over.

Fast forward a few weeks and she has a locking stifle (vet says it’s down to huge growth spurt) and it’s causing her discomfort and it’s difficult for her to move over.