after 18 months of trying everything..... could he have ulcers?

[charlie55]

We bought our youngster at 18months old and straight away noticed he had diarrhea. He is now 3 and a half and still has the same problem. We have tried every supplement possible, changed feed countless times and the vets have checked and checked but found nothing. We have never had him scoped though! The only thing that has worked was codeine.
He isnt naughty to girth up but you cantell he Is putting up with it by his face, he puts his ears back and lifts a leg when you touch his hind gut (these are recent changes) and he has diarrhea. He has never gone off his food or looked poor though and never shown signs of colic. What are your views please?

 

[Izzwizz]

If you have Insurance or funds to cover then I would get him referred to an equine hospital and get him scoped for ulcers. It needs ruling out and hopefully you will get some answers.

 

[Frozen Hoof Boots]

Hi, FYI scoping will ONLY highlight ulcers in the stomach. A scope cannot see ulcers past the pyloric sphincter.

this is a really interesting read re gastric vs colonic ulcers. http://www.montyroberts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Colic-White-Paper.pdf
And
http://www.succeed-equine.com/succe...lcer-free-pt-3-colonic-ulcers-in-the-hindgut/
Do lookup hind gut acidosis and right dorsal colitis as this may help you to get to the bottom on the issues.

 

[paddy555]

Hi, FYI scoping will ONLY highlight ulcers in the stomach. A scope cannot see ulcers past the pyloric sphincter.

this is a really interesting read re gastric vs colonic ulcers. http://www.montyroberts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Colic-White-Paper.pdf
And
http://www.succeed-equine.com/succe...lcer-free-pt-3-colonic-ulcers-in-the-hindgut/
Do lookup hind gut acidosis and right dorsal colitis as this may help you to get to the bottom on the issues.

I agree. Nothing to stop you scoping for stomach ulcers but I would work on the assumption he had hind gut ulcers first. If I was still having no success then I would move onto scoping.
I have hind gut ulcer problems and agree the content of the links above. I resolved the problem by using KER equishure from Saracen. I was suprised how well it has worked.

 

[Angelbones]

There was a really long thread on here a while ago about a horse with chronic diarrhea, can't remember who it was by now, but try searching and see if it comes up, or hopefully they will reply.

 

[Loubidy]

Definitely recommend getting scoped could be anything. My horse got very iffy about his belly and the scoping found some sort of growth. I video'd the whole procedure with the vets explaining too if you want to see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pplPQKDPJE

 

[charlie55]

Wow very interesting! Were all insured so I think its the next thing we will do, atleast we will know once and for all x

 

[fuzzle]

Hun my yougster had ulcers!!!! she was fat and shiney!!!! so dont be mislead thinking horses with ulcers are poor!!!!!! nightmare hated been touched ,girthy , and cow kicked at your foot when you was riding her also didnt like going forward!!! canter was the worst started rearing and bucking became a dangerous devil horse!!! im just so grateful i have my angel of a horse back!!! she was in pain and it was the only way of telling me!!! xxxxxxxxx