Gassy horse

[gryff]

Hi all.
Did any of you have a horse whose ulcer symptoms were just being incredibly gassy? My 11 year old mare, who's unridden at the moment, is bloated and gassy. She had slightly colicky symptoms three weeks ago, and the vet came out and commented on how gassy she was then. She had some buscopan, but actually by the time the vet had turned up, she'd nibbled grass and had a poo, so was back to normal really. She is overweight, but other than that, looks very healthy - she's bright, shiny coated, poos absolutely normal - lovely texture and number, etc. I've put her on Feedmark Ultimate Ease supplement - I've always rated their supplements - happy to be told otherwise though, but not really seen a difference in her windiness! She has a very small evening feed of a small scoop of speedibeet and half a scoop of Healthy tummy, just to get the supplement into her. They are out 24/7 on my large hardstanding area currently, with access to their stables if wanted. They have hay in nets around the area and never run out. Any ideas on how I can help her with her windy problem? Thank you!

 

[Ceifer]

Movement helped a horse we used to have on livery.
Obviously if she is out of work/unridden for a reason it’s not helpful advice for you.
Owner used to feed herbs and aloe Vera. This is going back 16 years so it was probably very basic mint and something else that smelt of aniseed. The name escapes me atm.

 

[gryff]

Fennel?
Been looking at that so good to hear someone used it. I really should take her for more inhand walks, but it's been hard with the dark evenings.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[Indieanna6]

I feed fennel to my mare that can bloat up, I find it really helps. I use the global herbs one but sure normal fennel seeds from any shop are fine

 

[rabatsa]

Bloating with a hard feeling to the belly was one of the signs that the RDA had a liver fluke problem. Not constant and went with being puffy above the eyes. There were also lots of other small, niggly symptoms, mostly transient.

 

[gryff]

Bloating with a hard feeling to the belly was one of the signs that the RDA had a liver fluke problem. Not constant and went with being puffy above the eyes. There were also lots of other small, niggly symptoms, mostly transient.

That's really interesting as the conditions would be "perfect" for it. My field is surrounded by common land that has sheep and cattle free grazing on it. We're in wetter and warmer South West Wales. She has no other of the classic fluke symptoms, but I'll defintely ask the vet about this. Thank you.

 

[SibeliusMB]

Sig's main symptom of ulcers is gas. He's on a daily pelleted ulcer supplement (Smartpak SmartGut, I get it from the States) and six 125mg Simethicone (anti-gas) tablets each afternoon with dinner.

The Simethicone tabs were recommended to me by some vet friends in the States. The 125mg tablets can be fed at one tab per 100lbs bodyweight in the event of a gas colic. I feed Sig a half dose of that daily just as a preventive measure. How effective they are is hard to say, but there aren't any side effects and at this point I won't challenge my luck by taking him off.

Our successful "colic first aid" for him is a full tube of Gastrogard, 12 tabs Simethicone, and 2 grams Bute at first sign of colic.

 

[Ceifer]

Sig's main symptom of ulcers is gas. He's on a daily pelleted ulcer supplement (Smartpak SmartGut, I get it from the States) and six 125mg Simethicone (anti-gas) tablets each afternoon with dinner.

The Simethicone tabs were recommended to me by some vet friends in the States. The 125mg tablets can be fed at one tab per 100lbs bodyweight in the event of a gas colic. I feed Sig a half dose of that daily just as a preventive measure. How effective they are is hard to say, but there aren't any side effects and at this point I won't challenge my luck by taking him off.

Our successful "colic first aid" for him is a full tube of Gastrogard, 12 tabs Simethicone, and 2 grams Bute at first sign of colic.

That’s interesting and probably more helpful than my post - it was a long time ago dealing with the gassy mare and in hindsight ulcers probably were there