Gastric ulcers and diet

[chestnuttyy]

Was hoping for some general feedback on diets for horses prone to ulcers?
At the moment my TB is fed Mollichaff Calmer (low sugar), Hi Fibre nuts (non-heating) and has access to pretty much unlimited hay. I make sure he's never without hay to try and keep the acid levels low. I've heard that alfalfa is better for ulcer prone horses due to the calcium content, but when I tried him on Alfa-Lite previously, he went a bit potty.
He's a good dooer for a TB and doesn't really lack condition.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[whizzer]

Diet sounds fine, what did vets recommend? My TB had ulcers but is a poor doer, I use top spec conditioning cubes or ERS pellets,speedibeet,linseed(good for the lining of the stomach), I avoid pure alfalfa chaffs as they send him crazy! He point blank refused to even look at the hi-fi molasses free chaff! He has mollichaff conditioning chaff or the spillers conditioning chaff. I no longer give him apples or carrots. My bet also recommended Saracen releve I did try it at first & he liked it but it is quite pricy. I also still feed haylage as I don't really have any other option but our haylage isn't the really rich stuff & he seems ok so far........ If he's in a situation again where he's susceptible to ulcers(I know what caused his) then I would try & source hay & would also feed a supplement as well.

 

[chestnuttyy]

Going to have a chat with the vet tomorrow, he hasn't been scoped but is showing signs of gastric ulcers so wanted to ensure the diet he's currently being fed is fairly suitable. Did you have any success with GastroGard by any chance?

 

[whizzer]

Yep, gastrogard worked really quickly on mine. He had grade 2-3 ulcers & lost over 30kg! He scoped completely clear at 3 wks
& had 2 more wks on 1/2 dose. I have some in for when he had to go back to the vets for check up on his sinus problems as we have to do a 200 mile round trip in one day, he has 1/4 of a dose for a few days before & after. I personally found the vet who scoped him a little blinkered with her dietary advice & I found out far more by searching on here & contacting feed companies. You basically need to feed high oil,high fibre,low starch,low or no
cereal. I also try & get him to eat a handful of chaff before I ride & also I read that too large feeds can push the acid up the stomach onto the bit it shouldn't go on( can't remember the technical name! I try & avoid doing stuff like travelling him more than once a week & I get him turned out as soon as I can in the morning. I know what caused his- long vet stays,tons of sedation & surgery, not eating for days while at the vets, weeks & weeks of bute, I also prob didn't help by stuffing him with conditioning mix as he'd lost so much weight but I'm still trying to be really careful as don't want a repeat of it(& he's half way over his insurance for them!)