Gastric Ulcers

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aimee8282

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I know there has been loads of posts about Gastric Ulcers on here and I have read most of them but was just wondering whether anyone had any advice on my problem?

My mare 15yr 16hh TBX ID started colicking badly a month ago, vet was called out at 2am and said she thought it was surgical so we took her to Glasgow where the vet said I think it's Gastric Ulcers.

She was scoped the next day and they found grade 3/4 ulcers in her stomach and most worryingly at the exit of her stomach. Vet prescribed Gastroguard 1xtube daily for 28 days which she went through and we went today for a follow up scope to find out that the ulcers are no different!

Vet has prescribed Gastroguard again for another 28 days, and said to come back for another scope in 28 days.

It's all covered under the insurance, but that isn't the point, I wish we could get to the bottom of 1.whats causing the ulcers and 2.how to heal them.

She's on 12-14hr turnout every day, stabled at night with 2 huge haynets, she's fed HI-Fi and hifibre nuts only. She's such a chilled out horse, so not your typical stressy gastric ulcer case.

I have done a lot of research and Pronutrin and gastrocare have come up alot, has anyone had any experience with them?

Anyone had a horse that hasn't responded to GG in the first 28 days?

Thanks in advance :)
 
In a few cases the ulcers can be caused by bacteria, which is far more common in humans but not so with horses. Pretty sure this type of ulcer its treated with a big dose of anti-biotics. Might be worth looking into.
 
Sorry to hear about your mare. I have only ever heard about amazing results with gastroguard, and have been tempted to get my horse scoped as he displays some symptoms of having ulcers - although to a very variable degree.

You are doing the right things re ad-lib forage, fibre, & plenty of turnout. Mine is out 24/7, but as someone on here pointed out to me - if he had them when I got him, he probably still has them now.

Will be very interested to read the responses, and wish you the best of luck getting her problem sorted. Do keep us updated.
 
Well my girl had ulcers which she had gastrogard for over a 2 month period in the end it worked really well however when she got colic again the ulcers came back so started again. Had her on gastrocare for a while and seemed to help however when specialist scoped her again he said dont use gastrocare on her leave it as not doing anything really.
 
maggiesmum said:
In a few cases the ulcers can be caused by bacteria, which is far more common in humans but not so with horses. Pretty sure this type of ulcer its treated with a big dose of anti-biotics. Might be worth looking into.
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This has crossed my mind in the past but I don't believe this has been shown in horses yet.
 
aimee8282 I am going through exactly the same thing at the moment with my mare going back to Glasgow to be scoped next week. She has a grade 3 ulcer of the glandular mucosa of the pylorus and certainly for the first 3 weeks of her gastrogard she has still shown mild colic symptoms very very grouchy as well which isn't like her.

She can always be a madam to her field mate but normally has excellent stable manners.

I would say just this week she seemed to be more like her old self and she's now on her 4th box of gastrogard. I've been quite worried as the vets seemed to think the gastrogard should have worked in the first two weeks.

I wonder if those ulcers just take longer?

PM me if you want to share worries/experiences/neurosis!!

I've been looking into herbal support for her once she's better and chamomile and slippery elm might help.
 
aimee8282 said:
I know there has been loads of posts about Gastric Ulcers on here and I have read most of them but was just wondering whether anyone had any advice on my problem?

My mare 15yr 16hh TBX ID started colicking badly a month ago, vet was called out at 2am and said she thought it was surgical so we took her to Glasgow where the vet said I think it's Gastric Ulcers.

She was scoped the next day and they found grade 3/4 ulcers in her stomach and most worryingly at the exit of her stomach. Vet prescribed Gastroguard 1xtube daily for 28 days which she went through and we went today for a follow up scope to find out that the ulcers are no different!

Vet has prescribed Gastroguard again for another 28 days, and said to come back for another scope in 28 days.

It's all covered under the insurance, but that isn't the point, I wish we could get to the bottom of 1.whats causing the ulcers and 2.how to heal them.

She's on 12-14hr turnout every day, stabled at night with 2 huge haynets, she's fed HI-Fi and hifibre nuts only. She's such a chilled out horse, so not your typical stressy gastric ulcer case.

I have done a lot of research and Pronutrin and gastrocare have come up alot, has anyone had any experience with them?

Anyone had a horse that hasn't responded to GG in the first 28 days?

Thanks in advance :)
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Hi there

Ulcers in the lower portion of the stomach take longer to heal, it is usually recommended they are treated for 6-8 weeks after which time there should be some improvement. Usually horses that are as severe as your horse are kept on gastrogard long term but once the ulcers are cleared they will discuss that with you. ulcers can flare up at times of stress.

I used to work for the makers of Gastrogard (on their small animal team) but do know a bit about it.

check out http://www.equinegastriculcers.co.uk/


Cxx
 
Natalie_H said:
Sorry to hear about your mare. I have only ever heard about amazing results with gastroguard, and have been tempted to get my horse scoped as he displays some symptoms of having ulcers - although to a very variable degree.

You are doing the right things re ad-lib forage, fibre, & plenty of turnout. Mine is out 24/7, but as someone on here pointed out to me - if he had them when I got him, he probably still has them now.

Will be very interested to read the responses, and wish you the best of luck getting her problem sorted. Do keep us updated.
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Not sure if your horse would still have them, changes in lifestyle and time off work can help clear them up so if you have had your horse on a holiday and he is out 24/7 I expect they may have cleared up by now. when he is in work he will have an increased risk of getting them, I could explain why but the makers of Gastrogard say it on here http://www.equinegastriculcers.co.uk/

It is to do with the stomach having two different linings, the top part is not glandular (mucus producing part) so has no protection from acid, as horses eat all day long they neutralise the acid with every bit of food passing though, as they produce 2 litres of acid an hour, they need to eat all the time, so when they are travelling without food, in exercise etc etc they are at an increased risk. when trotting/cantering/galloping acid splashes up and irritates the top lining.

The bottom part of the stomach is harder to treat as it is the glandular bit, it takes that bit longer to heal so treatment for ulcers in those areas is extended.

There aren't many other products out there that will help treat ulcers as the most important factor is to reduce the acid production.

Cx
 
Hi

One of my horses recently had colitis and afterwards they are very susceptible to gastric ulcers. Immediately after her bout of colitis I started using Happy Tummy charcoal made by Fine Fettle Feeds. I have no idea if she would have got gastric ulcers or not but she has recovered well from the colitis and doesn't have any sign of developing any ulcers.

I believe the charcoal helps with acid levels but there should be more info on the Happy Tummy website if you are interested.

Good luck
 
Thought I would give you all an update as to how she's getting on.

After vet at Glasgow prescribed Gastroguard for the 2nd month she went for her follow up scope last week where they found the ulcers were still there on the Pyloric glandular mucosa and the ulcers on the stomach lining had slightly improved but had caused scar tissue which will stop her from absorbing through the stomach lining.

They also took biopsies to check if it was stomach cancer and they came back inconclusive.

Vet in Glasgow can only advise another month of Gastroguard (3rd month now) and then follow up scope between Christmas and NY.

My vet is calling Tim Brazil & Professor Knottenbelt for their advice as well, I'm interested as to what they'll have to say.

To make matters worse she is now off her food, even though it hasn't changed, I've tried her on Spillars Readi-Grass/soft hay/timothy hay all to now avail. She is dramatically losing weight (this snow isn't helping!) even though she's not clipped and rugged up 24/7 with an underug.

I feel like I'm at my wits end, all I want her to do is eat so that the acid stops building up in her stomach to ease the ulcers.

Another vet visit I think.....
 
Derek Knottenbelt is a genius, he's a lovely guy and very very helpful, i'm sure if anyone can help he can :-) best of luck, i hope you manage to get your mare sorted out soon. :-)
XX
 
I had one with 3/4 grade ulcers - didn't seem your 'typical' ulcer type...chilled out, out 12hrs a day with company, ad lib hay at night, no cereals....

His took 8weeks on Gastroguard to improve.

The first two scopes showed no improvement....so we had a bit management overhaul -

-Turned out 24/7
-Borrowed him a shetland (he had company before, but this was 'his' friend)
-Fed protexin pre and pro biotics
-Fed charcole
-Switched to an Alfa a based diet - alfa a may help reduce acidity in the gut.
-before riding (or any period when he isn't eating) he had half a scoop of hifi so he always has something in his stomach!
-protexin stomach calmers before travelling/competition/vets...anything that may be considered stressful (even though he isn't nervous or stressy!

sounds like a lot of hard work, but actually no different to normal routine! just change of diet and turn out!

But now we are free from ulcers and have been for over a year!

Hope your sort them selves out!
 
I know exactly how you feel, my horse has ulcers at the exit from his stomach. The orginal ones cleared up with gastroguard. These however have not in fact they have got worse. He has been prescribed gastroguard, antibilotics and antepepsin (sp). he was rescoped just before xmas and a biopsy was done, hopefully this will shed some light on what is causing it. I changed his management earlier this year when he was first diagnosed, my vet thinks they are being caused by a bacteria hense the biopsy to find out.
 
Interesting post, my friends feral rescue pony has had low grade colic for 5 days, she's been on anti-biotics along with the usual treatments.

The vet thinks she may have uclers but scoping would be a last resort as she is too weak and has lost a dramatic amount of weight and would find it too stressful. He has recommended if she shows no improvement over the next couple of days that she is started on treatment for stomach ulcers.

She was out 24/7 in a small herd with adlib hay being fed speedibeet and Alpha-A, prior to the colic.

Assuming it is stomach ulcers, I would like to hear or anyone elses experiences with a horse/pony that was already getting the ideal management, what medication they were on and how long for and if the ulcers have re-occured.
 
aimee8282 said:
Thought I would give you all an update as to how she's getting on.

Aimee i feel your pain, my lad was diagnosised with gastric ulcers while in Glasgow vet school he ended up with gastroguard, Pronutrin and a liquid medication that thesame of i can't remember.

As for diet etc you really can't do much better for her but i do recommend Pronutrin
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