Anyone used Sucralfate

[poiuytrewq]

How essential is it that’s it’s given a hour before feeding? Can it be given a few hours before?
I’m finding it quite tricky!! Vet originally said just to add it to his food but then changed to a hour before. Horse takes 40 mins to eat, an hour after medicating and needs holding to eat (as no stables and a piggier field mate!) outside the field 3x a day so this is taking an absolute eternity. It’s not so bad in the evening but mornings are difficult!

 

[racebuddy]

Mine was on this I never had to give before food

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh really? What did you do? Just add it to his feed?

The vet originally over the phone said to do that but then I was told when I collected it and it’s on the label they print that it’s an hour before

 

[Abi90]

I was told to add the sucralfate to feed if the horse was objecting to so many syringes a day with the gastroguard as well

 

[BBP]

I was told by Vet to add it to feed. Worked well and had no issues using it this way.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Adding to feed would make my life so much easier right now. However having googled it it does say everywhere it’s to be fed on an empty stomach an hour before or two hours after feed.
I may run this past my vet 🤞

 

[BBP]

All I can say is my pony’s ulcers cleared up nicely and I put it on his feed each time, so I wouldn’t stress too much of it’s not feasible for you to do it as it says on google.

 

[nikkimariet]

I give after he's started eating, never had any probs.

 

[Esme]

Mine's also cleared up quickly with the first course of treatment + sucralfate and I couldn't get it near him without food (custard, mix and a sprinkle of Alfa!)

 

[poiuytrewq]

Haha! Not just google, it’s written on the prescribing label stuck to the pot and my horses discharge sheet.
If it’s worked for everyone else....
I mean it actually says on an empty stomach an hour before but as he’s out on good grass he’s never actually going to have an empty stomach anyway!

Those who used it in conjunction with Gastroguard, I assume that does have to be done correctly? (Ie-an hour before food!)
Although once a day I can handle it’s the am and lunch that’s hard

 

[Abi90]

Yeh. Gastroguard really does need to be done correctly or it won’t work. That’s why we went onto the injections... as my horse was on full livery and it wasn’t being done correctly and injections removed the human element. Plus side ulcers gone, negative side horse now scared of needles

 

[BBP]

Haha! Not just google, it’s written on the prescribing label stuck to the pot and my horses discharge sheet.
If it’s worked for everyone else....
I mean it actually says on an empty stomach an hour before but as he’s out on good grass he’s never actually going to have an empty stomach anyway!

Those who used it in conjunction with Gastroguard, I assume that does have to be done correctly? (Ie-an hour before food!)
Although once a day I can handle it’s the am and lunch that’s hard

Didn’t mean my answer to sound sarcastic, I genuinely meant dont stress too much if you realistically can’t wait an hour between each lot of meds. Not everyone can be that flexible. I fed sucralfate and omeprazole at the same time in his morning/evening feeds and he did really well. Maybe I was wrong to do it that way but that was what I was told by vets on discharge!

 

[D66]

Mine's also cleared up quickly with the first course of treatment + sucralfate and I couldn't get it near him without food (custard, mix and a sprinkle of Alfa!)

Custard?!

 

[Esme]

Custard?!

Yes, Tesco custard powder made up with water. I actually started a thread on here because he would't touch it or let me syringe. After putting it in food, treacle, molasses, apple puree, marmite, inside a carrot, sugarbeet, dissolved mints etc I asked the vet who suggested custard powder - bingo!

ETA: I also opted for the injection for the actual omeprazole as couldn't guarantee empty stomach/would have been relying on busy yard staff when I was at work.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I didn’t know there was an injection. How often is that given? Is it given by the vet or can you do it yourself?

 

[poiuytrewq]

It seems silly that ulcer treatments are supposed to be given on an empty stomach yet we are supposed to ensure ulcer prone or any horse really has access to forage 24/7 bit contradicting

 

[Esme]

I didn’t know there was an injection. How often is that given? Is it given by the vet or can you do it yourself?

I believe it's a relatively new thing. Had to be administered by the vet (1 injection a week for 4 weeks, started the day he was scoped then 3 more) but for me that was a much better solution than the stress (and impracticality!) of starving him.

 

[Abi90]

I didn’t know there was an injection. How often is that given? Is it given by the vet or can you do it yourself?

Vet, it’s a horrible looking injection. And inch long huge tube of what looks like gaviscon. But it did the trick for my mare

 

[flying_high]

I fed it on multiple vet practise instructions.

Horse had fairly empty stomach early morning. Give syringe gastroguard. Wait the prescribed time (45 minutes I think). Give feed with sulcralfate added. Once eaten give hay. Sulcralfate was given pm too, I think but not on a very empty stomach.

 

[flying_high]

I believe it's a relatively new thing. Had to be administered by the vet (1 injection a week for 4 weeks, started the day he was scoped then 3 more) but for me that was a much better solution than the stress (and impracticality!) of starving him.

The injection is omazeprole (not sulcralfate) and not many vets will do it. Mine refused, as it isn't part of cascade or similar. And my horse can be syringed. I would have MUCH preferred the injections. I asked a few more vet practices, and went to a senior ulcer specialist talk, and whether vet will give the omazeprole injections depends on how bad your horse is to syringe, and your vets approach to risk, in terms of legislation.

Also there is limited sample testing to prove injections work as well.

 

[poiuytrewq]

To be fair so far mine is being really good with the gastroguard. He’s very easy to do, we are only days in so I guess there’s tine for him to get wise to it but so far so good.
I wonder price wise if there’s a lot of difference in the syringe or injection.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Back to the Sucralfate I’m also giving it 3 times a day not twice whereas everyone else I’ve spoken to has only needed to give it twice. Mine has grade 2 ulcers so not like he’s the worst case scernario

 

[Esme]

The injection is omazeprole (not sulcralfate) and not many vets will do it. Mine refused, as it isn't part of cascade or similar. And my horse can be syringed. I would have MUCH preferred the injections. I asked a few more vet practices, and went to a senior ulcer specialist talk, and whether vet will give the omazeprole injections depends on how bad your horse is to syringe, and your vets approach to risk, in terms of legislation.

Also there is limited sample testing to prove injections work as well.

Yes I did say I opted for the injection for Omeprazole? I was surprised to be offered it as it wasn't an option for another horse treated at the same time on my yard, but not complaining as it did the job and made life much easier. In terms of cost to me there was little difference to syringes and we have free yard visit days so no additional costs there, though if your call out is expensive that might be something to consider for anyone else making a decision.

 

[flying_high]

To be fair so far mine is being really good with the gastroguard. He’s very easy to do, we are only days in so I guess there’s tine for him to get wise to it but so far so good.
I wonder price wise if there’s a lot of difference in the syringe or injection.

Mine is good to syringe, think tastes fine. BUT it was the starving before and after and timing of feeding that was a right pain, and not that nice for the horse. And mine was 12 weeks worth!!

 

[flying_high]

Interestingly I was talking to a rehab horse trainer who said once have had ulcers, adviseable to give a 2 week course of sulcralfate twice a year, at a cost of about £53 a course. For maintenance purposes and to prevent re-occurance.

 

[HGE123]

All I can say is my ponys ulcers cleared up nicely and I put it on his feed each time, so I wouldnt stress too much of its not feasible for you to do it as it says on google.

Did you use gastroguard or anything else in conjunction to the sucralfate?

 

[Boulty]

In all honesty when mine was on it I think I left it 30 minutes before food & as he was out overnight on sparse grass we concluded his stomach was empty enough not to starve beforehand. (The 20 minute walk from bottom of field to yard helped!) I had the joy of sucralfate, omeprazole and prascend on a morning & sucralfate & omeprazole on an evening. He was really poorly not long after starting the gastric meds & it was concluded that they were affecting prascend absorption so ended up needing to leave 20-30 mins between that & omeprazole, then sucralfate after another 30 mins then food 30 mins after that. I used to carry prascend dissolved in water in a syringe in my pocket so he could have it before we started walking up to the yard. I did have the luxury of a stable he went in for the day (plus an empty one around the corner for him to stand in) & it was still "fun" logistically! I also had a very kind YO who used to sort him in the evening for me & turf him back out. Can't imagine having to literally stand with a horse waiting for all that time... Could you tape off a bare patch near the gate to make life easier (with all this rain would suspect would soon get trampled to mud so nowt to eat)

 

[HGE123]

In all honesty when mine was on it I think I left it 30 minutes before food & as he was out overnight on sparse grass we concluded his stomach was empty enough not to starve beforehand. (The 20 minute walk from bottom of field to yard helped!) I had the joy of sucralfate, omeprazole and prascend on a morning & sucralfate & omeprazole on an evening. He was really poorly not long after starting the gastric meds & it was concluded that they were affecting prascend absorption so ended up needing to leave 20-30 mins between that & omeprazole, then sucralfate after another 30 mins then food 30 mins after that. I used to carry prascend dissolved in water in a syringe in my pocket so he could have it before we started walking up to the yard. I did have the luxury of a stable he went in for the day (plus an empty one around the corner for him to stand in) & it was still "fun" logistically! I also had a very kind YO who used to sort him in the evening for me & turf him back out. Can't imagine having to literally stand with a horse waiting for all that time... Could you tape off a bare patch near the gate to make life easier (with all this rain would suspect would soon get trampled to mud so nowt to eat)

My horse has some pretty gnarly ulcers and the barn he boards at feeds the sucralfate with the food... we started him on the sucralfate and omeprazole at first about 6 weeks ago and then started misoprostol about a week later. I didn’t notice much difference until we started the miso... he has def gotten a bit better but he’s definitely still hurting. He also takes some pretty great supplements that are not cheap and I’m a bit concerned that the sucralfate is affecting their absorption since he’s eating it at the same time.