EGUS - Treatment Cost, Prevention, Feed/Supplement Advice please

[FizzyBum]

Hi All,

If it’s not one thing it’s another with my poor boy…

So after solving the lameness issues (arthritis and secondary SIJ pain) with 6 monthly steroid injections, a balls-to-the-wall rehabilitation plan and monthly physio and massage, plus tackling the pain related behavioural issues, he’s now showing signs of EGUS…including; irritability when grooming and rugging – especially if I’m near his belly, pulling faces, grinding his teeth, swishing his tail at me, generally being a miserable sod both on the ground and under saddle (but then I would be too)! He hasn’t dropped weight, tucked up or gone off his food, nor has he had a squeaky bum or a dull coat. And he isn’t particularly girthy – but I guess they’re all different!

The signs started circa 3 weeks ago at which point he had a veterinary visit and it was found that he was stiff so had to have his hocks re-medicated (they were due anyway), his teeth checked which weren’t due but were found to be all in order – we also discussed bitting according to his needs and I was advised that the French link snaffle I use is fine, he has 4 weekly physio and massage, his feet done every 4 weeks with “special shoes” and his saddle was checked in November 17 so we know it’s none of these! (Yes, he costs me a fortune)…

I have already called the vet who is coming to scope him next week at £400. I’m almost certain that it is EGUS given the symptoms, his breed (TB), history (Ex-Racer) and temperament (stressy, sensitive, hot). So watch this space for the results…I just hope it’s not too far advanced. >.<

He always has been a poor doer and although he eats a lot, I have him on a (I think, relatively) low sugar and starch hard feed diet for his weight (537kg) at 163g and 437g per day respectively over a total of 4.5kg of hard feed per day, fed over 3 feeds in winter with a calmer and Buteless as recommended by my vet as an alternative to Bute in his lunch. Plus, he turned out for at least 8 hours a day on good grass despite the winter and has access to ad-lib hay and a greedy feeder net full of haylage when he is in overnight. He never runs out of forage…and it is hung in various locations around his stable to keep him moving.

This is my first experience with EGUS and I was wondering if anyone else had experience with EGUS and could advise: -
a) How much the full treatment cost, (I will pay irrespective but would like to gear myself up)…
b) Any supplements you give for prevention or maintenance and which worked best,
c) What you feed,
d) Any other advice.

Thanks in advance…I’m so worried about him! He was such a lost soul when I brought him home after a tough life and he so deserves to be healthy and happy!

 

[Marmaduke]

My TB seems susceptible to them. He has the same grumpy reactions to grooming rugging and then girthing. He always looks shiny and well but if really bad stops finishing his hard feed. He was scoped a few years back I think it was about £150 but it was the omeprazole (gastrogard) syringes that cost! About £200 per box of 14. He had a month course then was weaned off it. Others have mentioned using sulcrafate at the same time to coat the ulcer and allow them to heal. Since then he's been on equine science products. These do work and I think NFU insurance (still) will pay out for them. Over winter he does start showing signs again whether this is due to more mycotoxins (muddy paddocks) being ingested or increased hard feed/ fibre ratio or pain from other issues I'm not sure. Forageplus do a supplement called egusin which is also supposed to be good. I know the signs with him and just have to be on top of it and administer the omeprazole as needed. He is better if i feed him lunch as well. Even with hay in the field i think sometimes he just isnt eating all the time (too much time spent looking into the distance!) I feed Saracon conditioning cubes and their equijewel pellets (high protein rice bran) which keeps the weight on. He simply cannot eat enough high fibre low sugar stuff to keep the weight on. I feed hay (less acidic) as opposed to haylage. There are some good facebook groups with lots of suggestions and info. Feeding chaff before riding etc. I think most horses have them and sometimes it is a result of pain elsewhere (brought on by stress?) Hope this helps. My youngster has also just had them (badly) whether this was due to surgery and laminitis this year or acidic grass I don't know! Mine have good turnout / access to fibre etc so the usual "lifestyle" issues cant be the problem! Good luck your horse sounds lucky to have you.

 

[Led]

Hello. My boy has pyloric ulcers and was diagnosed approx five and a half years ago and has been on varying doses of Gastrogard for that whole time. Have had it from Viovet but eVet Drug now the cheapest online. He is scoped every six months to keep an eye on things and to tailor his meds as necessary (currently 1/2 tube daily). He is also on a supplement recommended by Consultant. Its called Pronutrin and is primarily a fruit based pectin pellet which coats the stomach to protect it from acid. It goes into his feed The Equine Consultant (at Vet School) has remained consistent from the beginning and is an internal medicine speacialist) and he advised no haylage as too acidic, only feed hay. Also that he should be on Alfa A molasses free as it buffers acid well. My boy is my world and he is doing really well with good quality advice (from the right people) and good management. Be careful about Peptizole and Ulcergold which are a little cheaper as my own vet practice told me it was the same drug (omeprazole) as Gastrogard, and it is, but the speacialist advised that the carrying agent is totally different and it's that which affects the uptake of the drug and its ultimate effectiveness. The speacialist discussed this with my practice and they changed their advice and the drugs they prescribe as a result! Also be aware that ulcers can be irritated by Danilon/Norodine etc. Sorry to ramble but I was really worried about the ulcers at the beginning due to the colic he presented with. This was immediately following a wormer (Equest Pramox) and he now has regular worm counts as the wormer really attacks his stomach. Please do let us know how you get on.

 

[ellie_e]

Get your credit card out, Gastroguard is expensive, but worth it. Its omeprazole, which you can buy cheaper versions of, however GG is the strongest, Ulcer gold, Abler etc are cheaper but believe the % is lower. Dont just stop the treatment, wean him off it, even 1/4 dose will help, and support the hind gut through treatment! Equishure is FAB for this. Supplement wise Ive tried LOTS, and found the best to be Science Supplements Gastrokind, it has pectins and no alfa. I know only use this and have stopped all treatment. I do use Ranatidine if needed and always use Protexin Quick fix to worm. Give as much hay as possible, always give a handful of chaff before any work or loading etc. I use Thunderbrooks herbal museli and their chaff, its soft and not stalky to upset the lining of the stomach. Feed is a battle field as everyone has different opinions, I use Saracen Releve, and top with Topspec Ulsakind. Micro linseed if needed in the winter. Vet recommended corn oil, but stopped after some research. Some horses find Alfa upsets their stomach too.

 

[FizzyBum]

Thank you all so much for your in depth, helpful and supportive advice...it really means a lot! I have never experienced this before now and I must admit, I am really worried.

I'm definitely going to contact Equine Science tomorrow to discuss their products. I've had a look at their website and their feeds etc sound fantastic and mostly geared towards, or at least with gastric health in mind. He too can't ever eat enough hay / fibre or even grass to keep weight on...and he also doesn't eat all the time when he’s out - when he is feeling good, he spends a lot of his time playing with his friends! I’m sure he thinks he’s a colt sometimes! I'm going to look into Alfa-A oil, Thunderbrooks chaff as an alternative to his current chaff and Saracon equijewel pellets and Releve sounds great for him! Also Top Spec Ulsakind, which I have heard really good things about.

When I get home tonight will also do some research into the Equishure and Egusin, which on first glance look really interesting and the Equitop Pronutrin and Science Supplements Gastrokind too - I've been giving him Protexin Gut Balancer since I brought him home but this obviously hasn't made much of a difference so I need to up my game.

I'm also going to phase out his haylage - if I'm honest, I didn't consider the acid levels but certainly will do now. I’ve been giving him a small amount of his chaff before exercise now too and he does seem more comfortable under saddle, although I’m definitely going to change his current chaff to something softer and more gut friendly!

Thankfully, my vet is fantastic but following all your really helpful advice and positive experience with GastroGard, I'm definitely going to ask him if we can use this as opposed to anything else and also discuss weaning him off slowly as suggested. I think it's better to spend the money on the right product for the right duration than use a substandard one which only works marginally.

Thank you all again...so, so much! You've really opened my eyes to some of the science backed feeds and supplements available and I'm really keen to do as much research as possible to find the right choice for him.

I hope your horses are all doing well now - they sound like they really are in the best hands! I know how upsetting it is when they're under the weather! I will be sure to keep you updated on the results on Friday and the subsequent treatment and his progress on the feeds and supplements too.

 

[FizzyBum]

Hi All,

So my boy was scoped this morning and was such a star! Better than me in fact as I was a quivering wreck (my poor vet even joked that perhaps I need the sedation more than the horse)!

It was found that he does have ulcers as suspected - Grade 2. The vet said that they are very easily treatable, are not that bad or that advanced and do appear as though they are healing by themselves. But as a precautionary measure, we will be prescribed GastroGard for one month at one syringe per day, with a re-scope after three weeks to monitor the healing progress.

He is also going to put me in touch with an equine nutritionist to minimise the risk of recurrence and just for my own piece of mind that I am feeding him appropriately (he knows, I too am stressy)...so I'm going to discuss his current feed against those recommended above and will definitely change if needed. I want him to have the best chance at health and happiness so for an extra, say, tenner a bag of feed or the cost of a supplement, I think it's worth it!

Although it's not ideal, I'm just so glad I now have some answers as to his unusual behaviour and am so relieved to know that this can and will be dealt with fairly easily and he will be back firing on all four, and very comfortably so, very soon.

Thanks again for all your supportive advice! It really is appreciated!

xx

 

[amandaco2]

grazing should ideally be on low sugar meadow mixed grasses. same with the adlib hay.
company and low stress environment- herd 24/7 is ideal.
feed wise- low sugar isn't what most feed companies say it is. I like TB chaff, basemix and copra for my horse who needs help keeping weight on.
avoid soya, alfalfa, rye grass, wheat and fillers.

 

[amandaco2]

also I fed mine ranitidine and ulsax during treatment. definitely wean down the GG v slowly. I was doing alternate days to finish my mares course off.