Care After Ulcers - What worked for you and your horse?

[lottiepony]

Currently treating my horse for ulcers. My vet was happy to go straight in and treat as he ticked enough boxes so no scope done. He has had 2 1/2 weeks off work and is a week in on a 28 day course of Gastrogard.
I 99% sure we have got it right. He has blossomed for not being in work so clearly exercise was causing him discomfort. (cue lots of guilty feelings!!) Any way my main point to my post is to those that have successfully treated ulcers - what changes did you make/do to keep your horse happy and healthy?
On current yard set up he has to be in at night during winter, then is out 24/7 all summer. Has adlib soaked hay (soaked as is a bit dusty so don't want to cause a cough) is out for a min of 10hrs per day, luckily they always have daily turnout regardless of weather. He can be stressy so I'm looking at ways to reduce that but easier said than done when you can't control everything 100% of the time.
In particular what do you do about feeding prior to riding? do you do the same if you go out and compete?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences. And if anyone is interested I can post some pics of before and after.

 

[Mahoganybay]

It’s a long one, but I found this really informative.

https://fb.watch/1OpeiNxEGm/

 

[Tash88]

Hi - I don't want to worry you but has your vet given any indication as to what could have caused the ulcers? My horse was in discomfort due to relatively mild bilateral stifle lameness which has since been treated, alongside the ulcers. He will need constant management in the form of careful exercise and steroid injections, but I am hoping that the ulcers won't return if he is comfortable. I'm not wanting to worry you and say your horse has a soundness issue as ulcers can be caused for a multitude of reasons and hopefully yours isn't as serious, but it would be worth trying to establish the cause and planning his ongoing management from there.

My horse is also permanently on Equinox Gastro-U - it is a general balancer/vitamin supplement with extra gastric support. He also gets some lucerne hay in with his normal hay - it can be difficult to source but it is good for horses with ulcers. There is a facebook page called 'Horses with Ulcers UK' as well - a lot of repetition but some useful information.

I'm please to see your horse is doing well, best of luck

 

[lottiepony]

Hi - I don't want to worry you but has your vet given any indication as to what could have caused the ulcers? My horse was in discomfort due to relatively mild bilateral stifle lameness which has since been treated, alongside the ulcers. He will need constant management in the form of careful exercise and steroid injections, but I am hoping that the ulcers won't return if he is comfortable. I'm not wanting to worry you and say your horse has a soundness issue as ulcers can be caused for a multitude of reasons and hopefully yours isn't as serious, but it would be worth trying to establish the cause and planning his ongoing management from there.

My horse is also permanently on Equinox Gastro-U - it is a general balancer/vitamin supplement with extra gastric support. He also gets some lucerne hay in with his normal hay - it can be difficult to source but it is good for horses with ulcers. There is a facebook page called 'Horses with Ulcers UK' as well - a lot of repetition but some useful information.

I'm please to see your horse is doing well, best of luck

Thank you, I know that ulcers are usually a secondary thing and it is a bit of a worry but I do think he is sound. He has always regularly seen a physio and also a chiropractor, even prior to being backed (been backed just under a year now) and my instructor is really hot on lameness so fully trust her opinion. I'm hoping it is because of stress, potentially sending him away to be backed could have been the initial trigger maybe? but if I have any concerns I will get a full work up done.

 

[Tash88]

Yes could well have been sending him away to be backed. Maybe look for the secondary cause if the ulcers return, and hopefully they won't