Anyone used Gabapentin for horse that had gastric ulcers?

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vanrim

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As the title really. Horse scoped clear 3 months ago but still so uncomfortable she won't trot even loose in the field.
 
No not for gastric ulcers but my pony was on a huge dose ( 4000mg bid which was then doubled by his specialist professor from glasgow vet school ) for a skull/ brain injury. In my ponys case it didnt make any difference but he had a serious injury that is usually always fatal at time of incident and i subsequently lost him to it.

In your case id be asking for a referral to a specialist or further work up.
 
Interesting vanrim, ive never heard of that use before. As i understand it, it is a pain killer for nerve pain. My previous horse was on it for a couple of months after a double neurectomy op for navicular.
 
Hi can't understand why you'd use it for ulcers? Gastric need a reduction in acid production and boost for the stomach mucosa, and hind gut irritation needs a reduction in gut acidity and protection for gut walls. A regime I've found works effectively for both is:
Omeprazole full dose or ranitidine full dose, for stomach acidity reduction, min 28 days.
At same time, 300ml high quality aloe vera juice syringed in in two lots of 150ml, for 28 days. And add 120ml corn oil across two or three daily cereal and sugar free fibre-only feeds.

Then after a few days start a course of protexin gut balancer and full dose equishure, for the hind gut, and continue for the rest of the month's full dose treatment. Then after 28 days, provided symptoms have gone for at least 10 days (if not extend full dose until they have) gradually taper all down over a month until you're maintaining on 150ml aloe a day as a minimum plus either protexin or equishure if you feel the horse still needs it. If symptoms go back up again during tapering, go straight back up to full dose for min 10 days...
HTH x
 
Tried all that already and more besides. Protexin had a bit of an effect. Exquisure and aloe Vera had no effect. She hasn't got gastric ulcers anymore so doesn't need more omeprazole. Specialist thinks it is nerve damage causing the problem now.
 
Vet has looked at horses backs and had physic and chiropractor but nothing found. Have only just started the Gabapentin so fingers crossed it works.


mega spoilt ponies said:
Just had mine re-scoped and the ulcers are pretty much resolved but symptoms remain. Got back from rvc yesterday and the vets are putting it down to soft tissue back pain
Click to expand...
 
HOw interesting - so they think nerve damage in the stomach? Or that it's not gastric ulcer related at all but nerve pain somewhere else?
 
Nerve pain and damage from the gastric ulcers. I have googled this and it is common in human patients with ulcers to have nerve pain and damage resulting from ulcers. Gabapentin is used successfully with few side effects in humans.
 
Innnteresting. Guess it makes sense from a chronic case, but never come across it. Will be v interested to hear if it works...
 
Mine was scoped with ulcers, did the full treatment, no difference, still didn't want to trot... Got his back xrayed & he also had KS & had the surgery about 4 weeks ago. Ulcers & KS are often found together.

T x
 
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