Feeding For Gastric Ulcers?

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little_pink_piggies

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Hi, have a 16.3hh warmblood type 7 year old who developed gastric ulcers this year in about June and we put him on a course of gastroguard and he came back to normal... but think they've come back (he's "playing" with his tongue, starting to go a funny shape (like poor over his back but big belly), rushing at his fences and he had an attack of mild colic the other morning for no apparant reason?)

So we have obviously been doing something wrong and was just wondering if anyone has any experience and could help me out?

I've changed his haylage from high quality "racehorse" haylage to intermediate haylage, is this the right thing to do?

Currently being fed Kwik-beet (chose this because it's unmolassed... is it acidic though?) Hi-Fi Lite and Spillers cool mix (and garlic oil and acti-premium)

Have asked out feed place to order us in some Allen & Page sugar and intolerence mix so was going to try him on that, or is the Winergy Equilibrium a better feed?

Sorry to be a pain, but our vets seem to not have much idea on the subject past the gastroguard!!

Thanks, any info appreciated
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Just lost a long reply!

Basically avoid mixes, higher starch. Google Winergy and see threads on here with cribbers and colicky horses much better on it, no need to add HiFi, or even beet. A and P feeds are frequently higher in starch than you may imagine, levels listed on the website.

I'd go for Winergy every time.
 
I have 2 exracers, one who definately has ulcers and one who we think has them - both are now on Winergy feeds and nothing else and they are doing great, both are a good weight and have the right kind of energy to do what I want them to do.

I have been through all sorts of other feeds with them inc most of Allen and Pages range, Baileys feeds and an Alfa A only diet and none have worked as well as this - plus no need for supplements etc....

Oh, my vet advises feeding some chaff 1/2-1 scoop a little while before riding to neuralise the acids in the stomach as riding makes it slosh about and can give them a sore tum!! Works a treat with my two....
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Hope that helps....
 
My friend was told by a vet at Liphook (after her mare had ulcers) to feed Alfa is it thought to be beneficial. The is also the obvious in avoiding cereals and ensuring they always have forage available.
 
my TB has suspected gastric ulcers and is doing well on a feed of spillers cool fibre 2 big round scoops twice a day, fibre beat, and a small amount of spillers high fibre cubes. basicly anything high fibre, low starch and low sugar
 
I wouldn't feed the cool mix because it's got cereals in it. I'd also do away with the garlic (can affect gut bacteria) & the acti-premium (probiotics can make the gut more acidic).

Have you tried Equine America's U-Gard Plus? My vet recommended it to me & it's fantastic stuff!
 
All of the above- no mix, but a low starch feed like winergy.

Plus definately no haylage whatsoever- normal bland hay. Haylage makes the gut much more acidic and is more difficult to digest as would any type of rich hay.

Also be wary of good grass- bland/poor quality grass is better.
 
My friends ex racer had awful ulcer problems. She sorted it with a high fiber, low sugar no cerial diet with ad lib hay.... happy hoof basicly! Added oil for energy and suplemented human indigestion remedies... a couple of tablets twice a day... you could just use limestone flower, that would lower the gut acidity just the same but her horse enjoyed the peppermint flavour indigestion tablets.
 
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