GASTRIC ULCERS???

[SmartieBean09]

Hi,

This may sound silly but I am wondering if my pony has previously had ulcers? Just reading a few posts and I would say that she has previously had the symptoms.

She was VERY stressy and always had loose droppings. She would literally drop her bowels 6-7 times on a 20 minute hack (and it was like water). She has always been aggressive when I brush her belly, do up her girth or even do up her rug.

She completely stopped eating and lost a lot of condition and weight back in November. She also suffered from colic and choke last year.

She wouldnt touch hay last year and on the advice of my EDT and vet, I put her on a hay replacer of lots of different types of fibre and included Pink Powder.

She is now eating hay and has some of the fibre from her hay replacer as her dinner but I have cut out all cereal from her diet and the change in her has been dramatic.

Her poos are perfect!!!! She is laid back. We have no temper tantrums when I ride. She is happy for me to tighten her girth right up and she looks so much better.

Am wondering whether I should speak to my vet or if they will think that I am just over reacting??

From other peoples experiences, does this sound like she had Ulcers?

 

[Weezy]

Yes it is a possibility, but it sounds as though you have sorted your problem, so I see no reason for you to speak to your vet unless the old signs flare up again

Ulcers can and do heal and if she had some then hers appears to have shrunk to a manageable level - well done!

 

[Happytohack]

The fact that you have cut out all cereals and she is now on a forage based diet and is much better would indicate that she was suffering from excess stomach acid. I would make sure she is kept on her new diet and wouldn't bother to call out the vet unless her symptoms re-appear.

 

[SmartieBean09]

Thank you all for your advice. I have no intention on changing her diet now as the improvements in her are amazing (Even the farrier is pleased as he no longer gets pooed on and has commented on how well she appears to be now!). I just wanted to know if her issues before were because of something like excess acid/ulcers. Its seems like it was, so atleast now I know and can continue to make sure that this never happens again. I am just so gutted that I didnt see what was happening to her sooner. Looking back now, she had all of the signs and yet the "alarm bells didnt ring!" Poor thing!!

I have been reading up on it and there has been some suggestions on feeding as much fibre as possible in the stable. She has her feed and ad lib hay, what do others do? Do you for example put buckets of chaff in the stable or maybe a snack ball with Hi Fi cubes?

Any suggestions on how to keep her as happy as possible will be gratefully received.

Thank again