Feed critic for ulcer horse

[mega spoilt ponies]

Hi guys

Just had my boy scoped again after 3 months of GG for Grade 4 pyloric ulcers and to my horror the ulcers are worse than they were at day 1 :-O.

He is now going to try Ranitidine instead along with a 2nd lot of antibiotics and then potentially some sucralfate. The specialist has said he is proving to be a very tricky case and we are now basically trying to throw the kitchen sink at it as I'm desperate to make him feel better. I feel horrendous that he has been uncomfortable for 5 months now (his only symptom is that he is unrideable - cold backed to the point that he will not take 3 steps from the mounting block). (he has spent 5 days at RVC having every scan under the sun so we are as sure as we can be that there is not underlying pain etc). Osteo is happy.

So I was wondering for any ulcer experts out there if anybody has any opinions/suggestions on his current feeding regime?

Ad lib hay
1x gastrogard syringe

Feed (am and pm)

3/4 scoop PURE EASY feed
100g Micronised Linseed
30ml Coligone liquid

And I am now considering adding yea sacc as well

No real evidence of a hind gut problem but as his stomach is so bad im just trying to cover all basis just in case!

Any suggestions welcome, or alternatively virtual hugs for my poorly pony.

 

[mega spoilt ponies]

Oh and I tried adding some alfa pellets for its perceived stomach buffering effects but it did not agree with him. Thanks

 

[thatsmygirl]

Sorry I'm no help but good luck.
Honestly can't see anything wrong with his diet

 

[Fruitcake]

His diet looks totally ulcer friendly.

Has he been on GG permanently for 3 months or did he go down to lower dose? My horse was a tricky case, although by the sounds of it not as tricky as yours. He had 3 courses of GG in total. Each time, scope would show ulcers gone but after a month or so off GG, they would return. (Low grade though). It was decided eventually (by vet) to manage them rather than try to cure them completely.

I have since done lots of research and, apparently, some horses are genetically predisposed to ulcers as their the part of their DNA responsible for producing mucosa in the stomach is 'faulty'. Vet seemed to be of belief that best way to manage it was to provide protective coating for stomach that, for whatever reason, wasn't being produced naturally. Sucralfate was considered for this but decided against it eventually due to risk of constipation. Used Equitop Pronutrin for a while but it was very pricey. Now using Exegus from vet which is supposed to form protective barrier and do something to help horse produce his own mucosa. (Not sure how!!)

I really hope your next scope shows better news. Good luck!

 

[TwinkleT]

Pure feeds did not agree with my horse at all. His windsucking got 10 times worse. I'm not sure what it was about it but he improved straight away when I stopped.

 

[mega spoilt ponies]

Interesting, i'll bear that in mind too, thanks TwinkleT

 

[jm2k]

Increase the micro linseed to 200g which is the rda minimum. I feed 500-600g a day (and have fed up to 1kg) for my TB who can be a hatrack when winter kicks in! Apart from all the healthy benefits of omega 3+6 oils, its very good for all types of gut issues.

Slipper elm powers is also very recommended for soothing gut as well as cider apple vinegar.

Alfalfa chop maybe instead of pellets? leave it soaked and give free access? My boy isnt a fan of the long chop but will eat it in smaller amounts so i only use a little to add texture to the feed, but i give him the pellets and i soak them in with his unmol beet so their softer and all mixed in.
i put his CAV in with the water at the same time and give it all a stir so it helps disguise taste of his powders or minerals

pure feeds he didnt like, simple systems he did. but i just feed all generic local feeds the same as simple without the price tag and delivery cost but its basically unmol beet, alfalfa pellets, micro linseed, alfalfa oil chop, plus he gets CAV, brew yeast, yea saac, lysine. i just ordered slip elm for when he comes home from vet and being put on gastroguard.

Feed before, during and after exercise, adlib hay and/or live out if possible?


i always feed all my guys high fibre and oils, very low sugars/starch. strictly no cereals or molasses regardless of the work or rest they do but my ex-racer (last raced 4 yr ago) was scoped last week and found Grade 2. vets were all very surprised as he lives out on this diet, but still had them. He has also been diagnosed with severe SI and PSD issues so they think the pain kicked the ulcers off (i personally think he has had them constantly since ive had him in a very mild form).
No amount of management can every stop them developing but treating when they are found then managing the diet is key.

 

[mega spoilt ponies]

Thanks for the response

Got all that covered :-/

He can't have alfa as it doesn't agree with him
I can't up the Linseed as he is a good doer and does not need any weight on.

He got serious grade 4 ulcers while living out with constant food!

I am also considering the possibility of a potential food allergy resulting in the ulcers not healing? But I think the only potential culprit in his feed could be the soy oil? - but we are reaching here!

I am praying that the change from GG to ranitidine/norodine/sucralfate will make some miraculous difference this week :-/

 

[rising_promise]

My vet told me to take mine off the linseed. I said I thought it was good for tummies... his answer was that it is for some and not for others so mine came off it and went on to Dengie Healthy Tummy (which vet recommended).

After being diagnosed in June with gastric and colonic ulcers she was put on 4 week course of Peptizole (same as GG) and Equitop Pronutrin. She is still on a third dose of both of these for maintenance and is looking and feeling great.