Am I being cruel?

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express_75

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Bought a gorgeous Sec D gelding in May, his previous owner didn't disclose that he suffers from gastric ulcers. I have two other Ds and this one was meant to be fun, it's turning into a nightmare. The cost of everything from scoping and having to treat him differently is taking it's toll on me.

I would love him to go to someone who has the time and money to get him going. He's previously been ridden but not since last September.

What do I do? I feel awful but would never have bought if I'd know beforehand. I just don't want him to be passed around:(
 
Well there is a third option - PTS. If you don't want him passed around but don't want to keep him then that is -I'm afraid - the only other recourse.
 
You can get much cheaper ulcer treatment (which is exactly the same as gastroguard) from abler.com. The sachets work out much cheaper than the syringes. We have a horse here (not mine) that needs to be on it constantly, even when out 24/7 in the summer. Nothing else works. She was starved by a livery yard many years ago and this was when the initial damage was done. Owner orders it on a regular basis. The horse would have had to be PTS if she couldn't do this as she would never afford the vet treatment once her insurance ran out. So you have a cheaper option than scoping and treating by a vet.
 
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I did think of Abler granules tbh. I think he was staved then pumped as he's obese and has behaviour problems. Total gent to deal with but if he sees tack, them he freezes and his tongue curls up. I just lunge and loose school him to keep him going, he also gets turned out in a paddock but won't be caught for days, never had anything like this before. Really feel for him and he's obviously been badly treated in the past. He's only 7...
 
express_75 said:
I did think of Abler granules tbh. I think he was staved then pumped as he's obese and has behaviour problems. Total gent to deal with but if he sees tack, them he freezes and his tongue curls up. I just lunge and loose school him to keep him going, he also gets turned out in a paddock but won't be caught for days, never had anything like this before. Really feel for him and he's obviously been badly treated in the past. He's only 7...
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Sounds as though he may have metabolic issues too, poor thing. Can you reduce the size of his paddock and then feed him soaked hay and some chopped straw? With his condition he needs constant fibre but very few calories. Sounds like a nightmare. I think you have three options: 1. get the granules and feed him as I suggest above, 2. simply retire him, or 3. PTS. I don't envy you. Is he insured for vets bills? If so, I would want to get a few more things checked out. Ulcers can be related to other physical problems such as kissing spine, so I would want a full work up done with xrays. If you're not insured but prepared/can afford to put a bit more money into him, then spinal xrays are not too expensive but are difficult to do if the horse is obese.
 
Wagtail said:
Sounds as though he may have metabolic issues too, poor thing. Can you reduce the size of his paddock and then feed him soaked hay and some chopped straw? With his condition he needs constant fibre but very few calories. Sounds like a nightmare. I think you have three options: 1. get the granules and feed him as I suggest above, 2. simply retire him, or 3. PTS. I don't envy you. Is he insured for vets bills? If so, I would want to get a few more things checked out. Ulcers can be related to other physical problems such as kissing spine, so I would want a full work up done with xrays. If you're not insured but prepared/can afford to put a bit more money into him, then spinal xrays are not too expensive but are difficult to do if the horse is obese.
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Thank you for your reply.
He's in a very small paddock, wont eat hay but eats haylage, has fast fibre with his gastriaid in. He's had his back done twice as I initially thought he issues were to do with his back then googled his name and previous owner's name and saw his for sale ad from last summer where his ulcers were mentioned. I bought him at the cob sales as a needs restarting pony, no mention of ulcers. Brightwells were contacted but were not interested.
Maybe it is KS? Never seen him buck or mess about in the field or school [sorry don't know much about KS] He's a fantastic mover but he seems very reserved and doesn't;t have any of the Welshie character that I'm used to.
He's very obese at 590k
Honestly hate being in this situation.
 
are you absolutely sure its ulcers? he might just be uncomfortable because hes so fat. restrict grazing and feed hay not haylage he'll eat if if hes hungry , cant be hungry if hes leaving hay. preferably soak the hay first to remove sugars. get him slimmed down and he might be a different horse.
 
No point playing guessing games & spending money on medication you think he needs. if you suspect ulcers get him scoped. This is the only sure way to know & will tell you how bad the situation is. I take it he's not insured?
If he hasn't had the best of homes in the past he may well have other health issues, eg kissing spine, which also affect his behaviour/temperament. Only you can decide how far you want to go, your horse / your money.
I was in a similar position, bought 5 yr old horse from person who'd bought as a yearling from breeder & didn't tell me about behaviour issues even though I specifically asked! Fortunately I insured the horse! Major behaviour issues appeared after 2 weeks, turned out horse was in severe pain from major health issues including ulcers & kissing spine. Took 3 years & £10,000 vet fees to sort out & yes insurers paid up.
 
Downton Dame said:
he'll eat if if hes hungry , cant be hungry if hes leaving hay. preferably soak the hay first to remove sugars. get him slimmed down and he might be a different horse.
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I've got a fatty HW cob who is fussier than he should be for such a greedy horse! He lives in a small bare paddock with about a metre square of very long old grass opened up to him everyday. He also gets a big tub trug full of chopped straw. He doesnt like it, but he does eat it when hes genuinely hungry.

Hes just gone onto this regime as now hes just a bit chubby as opposed to a huge fatty. When he was on a serious diet he lived in a dirt pen, got 3kgs of high fibre laminitic friendly haylage and regular deliveries of the tub trugs of chopped straw. He lost lots of weight and always ate most of the straw. Now he has some grass he picks at a bit and kicks most of it about
 
Downton Dame said:
are you absolutely sure its ulcers? he might just be uncomfortable because hes so fat. restrict grazing and feed hay not haylage he'll eat if if hes hungry , cant be hungry if hes leaving hay. preferably soak the hay first to remove sugars. get him slimmed down and he might be a different horse.
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I've had him scoped and there were ulcers present, stage II glandular ulcers. Also found his for sale ad from last summer, which stated he suffers from these.
 
Ulcers are a PITA, I'll agree.

I spent thousands (uninsured) sorting Figs earlier this year. Touch wood, he is now happy chappy again and will continue on a maintenance dose of his treatment and the management plan that seems to keep him as relaxed as possible.

The granules from Abler are not the same as Gastrogard. Abler provides Omeprazole which is the active ingredient in Gastrogard (and Peptizole). Horses shouldn't be on Omeprazole long term as it stops acid production and long term this isn't good for them.

Mine didn't respond to Gastrogard or Peptizole or straight Omeprazole. He is on Sucralfate.

Don't you owe it to the horse to sort the ulcers? It's not his fault he has them. However, if he wasn't as sold then you could chase that route. But might be difficult to follow up if it's a private seller.

Feeding corn oil is good for lining the digestive system. But for a fatty you might struggle. I would speak to a vet and a nutritionist if you're stuck.
 
the Ulcers will be a secondary symptom of something else going on. Pain. It may well be his back but you wont know until it is investigated. pointless wasting money on Ulcer supplements if the primary cause ie Stress/Pain is not identified and treated. If you are not prepared to do that then perhaps you should consider PTS. its not fair to pass him on, either to him or the next person.
 
nikkimariet said:
Feeding corn oil is good for lining the digestive system. But for a fatty you might struggle. I would speak to a vet and a nutritionist if you're stuck.
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Could you try Aloe Vera maybe as an alternative to oil? Not sure of the calorie content, but probably a bit lower than oil and supposed to help with ulcers.
 
deicinmerlyn said:
the Ulcers will be a secondary symptom of something else going on. Pain. It may well be his back but you wont know until it is investigated. pointless wasting money on Ulcer supplements if the primary cause ie Stress/Pain is not identified and treated. If you are not prepared to do that then perhaps you should consider PTS. its not fair to pass him on, either to him or the next person.
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Not always. I had a full work up done on mine barring full body scan and he just simply has ulcers.

MrsNorris said:
Could you try Aloe Vera maybe as an alternative to oil? Not sure of the calorie content, but probably a bit lower than oil and supposed to help with ulcers.
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There has been cases were Aloe has helped soothe, but oil lines the stomach in a different way (like a stomach healing medicine, protecting it from the acid).
 
Wagtail said:
You can get much cheaper ulcer treatment (which is exactly the same as gastroguard) from abler.com. The sachets work out much cheaper than the syringes. We have a horse here (not mine) that needs to be on it constantly, even when out 24/7 in the summer. Nothing else works. She was starved by a livery yard many years ago and this was when the initial damage was done. Owner orders it on a regular basis. The horse would have had to be PTS if she couldn't do this as she would never afford the vet treatment once her insurance ran out. So you have a cheaper option than scoping and treating by a vet.
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Echoing what Wagtail has said - there are other preperations on the market such as slippery elm too.

https://www.pegasushealth.com/product/slippery_elm_for_horses
https://www.******.co.uk/Hilton_Herbs_Slippery_Elm_Powder/c16674/

Slippery elm is a powder that has been used for gastro and intestinal complaints for thousands of years. Its a powder form that you put in a horses feed. It forms a mucilage (like a snail trail) in the horses stomach and prevents the acid splash. It absolutely won't cure ulcers but it will prevent a lot of the pain associated with them.

Ebay sell it very cheaply and I can recommend as I have used a lot http://stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Alchemists-Apothecary/Powders-/_i.html?_fsub=241144019
 
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