Feeding Advice for horse with ulcers

J

JamesTaylor

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Could anyone out there offer any advice on what is best to feed a horse that has had gastric ulcers?

He is a 14 year old ITB gelding (ex racehorse) who finds it hard to maintain topline. He is a fussy eater and has had gastric ulers (though has been recently scoped and there are non showing). I am currently feeding him D&H topline cubes, Alpha A and Speedibeat. He is recovering from a slight tendon injury but will be back in medium work soonish (i hope)

Any advice would be helpful. thanks

J
 
My mare had some grade 4's back at the beginning of the year. They are now totally gone after 3 courses of Gastroguard (eek

As you will already know, make forage the largest part of his diet. Totally adlib hay.

Alfa A and Speedibeet is great. I suspect Topline cubes are cereal based? If so it may well be worth your while to add in Pro Soothe or something along those lines.

I find it really hard feeding for energy without using cereals.

My mare was eating Equilibra, Fibregest, Energest and Tiger Oats and she hasn't had an ulcer back with all that.

Not much help am I!
 
Some radical advice from me I'm afraid - having had a similar horse.

Dump everything wiht cereals in - that means the Topline cubes

Dump the Alfalfa - it can cause more harm than good to be honest.

Use unmollassed beet, and use Linseed meal (Charnwood) - 500gr a feed - the mucilage will really help the gastric tract.

Also consider using Magnesium Oxide in the feed.
Oh...and edited to add - I use Yea Sac as well and that keeps them happpy!
 
Start with Coligone. It's the closest thing to magic fairy dust you will ever find and is designed specifically for stressy, ulcer-prone horses. You can get an emergency "loading" tube but then put him on a maintenance dose of the peppermint powder. Costs just pence per day and works immediately. Then I'd strip him right back to a basic fibre-based, horse-friendly, ad-lib diet and review his turnout/management. Horses usually get ulcers from stress related to management, eg not enough turnout, no ad-lib feeding when stabled, not enough company etc etc.
 
I agree with SMID. I also have a horse with severe gastric ulcer now under control, initially thanks to Gastro Gard (bank loan needed!) He has always had plenty of turnout on good grass & ad lib haylage when stabled. He also has a supplement,Neigh Lox, daily split between 3 feeds of Winnergy Equilibrium.
 
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