Anacid Treatment for Windsucking

[jellycat]

Hi everyone

I know that windsucking can be caused by a desire to release dopamine through goal directed behavior/reward seeking and that steps need to be taken to ensure the horse has a constantly available source of forage coupled with kind treatment. BUT I've also read, in scientific literature, that windsucking can be reduced through treating stomach ulcers with antacids. I know Michael Peace gave a windsucking horse of his Rennie tablets. I was just wondering if anyone out there had used any human or equine products, what your dosage was and how successful.

 

[GingerCat]

Remedies such as Rennies (calcium carbonate) would only mask the symptoms , not solve them. Too much could cause kidney problems.

If the windsucking is caused by stomach ulcers then they need to be treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as Omeprazole or Lansoprazole, as this group of drugs inhibits the production of stomach acid and allows the ulcers to heal and therefore solve the problem.
Research is also continuing to find out whether equine gastric ulcers can be caused by 'helicobacter' bacteria (similar to the ones that cause some human gastric ulcers) and whether treating with a group of antibiotics as well as the PPI's would be effective.

 

[better half]

Science and scientists do not have all the answers. In 1997 we had a horse into stay that was by Vatout he had the most beautiful paces he got into trouble with his training so was gelded then sent to top yard as he became more dangerous to handle he was turned away and then no one wanted to go near him. When he got to Michael after long ‘sad story’ he cribbed. The owner gave the horse to Michael to get right.
I had noticed that some ‘problem horses liked to put straw in their water and along with Michael’s thoughts on lime stone soil grass helping some cribbers we thought there must be a connection with digestion and cribbing. I fed this horse 6 Rennie just before I gave him his hay each time. Counting cribs per min before and after Rennie. The results were amazing so I contacted an old school friend of MP’s that was then Head of behaviour at one of the Universities.
He said ‘It is amazing how brilliant Ideas come from simple sources’ and after investigations said there was no research into stomach acid and cribbing at that point. He ran a 100 horse trial and wrote a paper on this, which confirmed cribbing was significantly linked to diet.
My point is that things happen then science tries to explain them some times. When MP did large demo’s in Denmark, Copenhagen Vet School wanted to work with MP as they could not work out if he was systematically desensitising or flooding as the process was so fast. I am not a scientist but have observed many things that have not yet been explained, it just is.
The horse went on to compete at the National Championships at Stoneleigh in the new home that he got once he left MP. We ended up with large court costs after MP was not given any credit for the Idea which went on the market as Settlex.
The best solutions is really to feed more good hay or grass. Readigrass also worked well to replace any concentrates. I also found Aloe Vera drink helped as well.

Susi Peace