Gastric Ulcers

[Goldie7]

Please help. My mare was diagnosed with grade3/4 ulcers in the hind gut after she became reluctant to work. She was given Gastroguard and anti biotics as the ulcers were caused by bacteria. However, upon second scope 2 weeks later there was no improvement as she had contious bile in her gut preventing her from healing. She was reduced down to half a gastroguard a day and supplements and we hoped for the best. After 2 months she developed a reaction to fly bites and was treated with steriods then shortly after rescoped. The bile had stopped and the ulcers were starting to heal. However, her behaviour is not getting any better and now after nearly 4 months and a fourth scope she is still not making any major progress. The vets have checked for any other issues and found nothing. She is 18 and always been a forward horse who maintained weight. She has now lost condition her coat is dull and she is very unhappy.

 

[Oberon]

Contact Sarah Braithwaite at ForagePlus

http://forageplus.co.uk/category/equine-ulcers/

 

[JillA]

You haven't mentioned her diet - low sugar/starch and high fibre? There would seem to be an underlying problem, which could be sugar or starch in the diet which she isn't coping with, too many periods when there is nothing in her system, not enough fibre, or maybe too much stress. Is she on field rest? That is the most low stress high fibre regime and maybe she needs field rest with ad lib hay for a while? Difficult sometimes for liveries I know.
And yes, Sarah is a mine of useful information

 

[Goldie7]

Thanks for replying. She has been turned out 24/7 till about 3 weeks ago now she comes in at night and has ad lib hay. She has one scoop of Alfa a oil twice a day with a handful of 16plus and un mollased sugar beet with veg oil. Sometimes she will eat it all sometimes she will leave some. She is refusing to go forward when riding and cannot groom her or take rugs off without kicking or biting!

 

[Frozen Hoof Boots]

Lookup Dr Ridgeway paper on ulcers. V informative. Try some RiteTrac by KERX as heals fore and hind gut ulcers. Was recommended by my vet. Amazing. You will see a diff in 48 hours.
Those will ulcers maybe fussy eating, others eat like pigs!. Fast Fibre with Readigrass, micronised linseed is what I feed mine on plus Forege plus Winter balancer. He now looks amazing. Try Feed a third scoop of chaff/readigrass before riding. Stops splashing in the tummy. Until the ulcers start to heal your horse will be reluctant to want to be brushed, rugged, tacked or go forward as it hurts tensing the tummy in anticipation of pain.

Oh and lots of hay, ensure never without forage.

Hope that helps

 

[Goldie7]

Thank you so much I will discuss with my vet. I am at my wits end

 

[be positive]

I am rather confused by your OP, I assume she has stomach ulcers found to be grade 3/4 and also suspected hind gut ulcers? scoping cannot see hind gut ulcers.
I think you really need to treat the stomach ulcers with gastrogard until they are clear by doing a short course then half dosing and hoping for the best means they probably have not had enough to really heal them so will stay much the same. There are other treatments but the chances are until you really get to the bottom of them she will continue to be difficult and lose weight, I would suspect there may be an underlying pain issue if this is recent and nothing else has happened to cause her to stress.

 

[JLS]

Sorry to jump in on this thread, but want to ask if any one who has used gastro guard, has then gone onto gastro plus.
Reason for asking is that my horse is on second treatment of GG, but have heard good reslts when on GP. Do you need to wean them off GG or can you just swap in mid treatment.
Goldie7....have you tried Gastoplus, apparently it works on the whole system, unlike GG, which does sound like it might be better for your mare.

 

[Goldie7]

Thanks vets think she has other underlying issue and want to x ray for kissing spine but I am not sure what to do all I know is she is not happy. After asked re other treatments and this is it or put her to sleep

 

[Goldenstar]

Thanks vets think she has other underlying issue and want to x ray for kissing spine but I am not sure what to do all I know is she is not happy. After asked re other treatments and this is it or put her to sleep

If a horse has an health issue giving pain no amount of gastroguard and gastric supplements will stop the ulcers .
Gastroguard will help while the horse is on it but as soon as they come off they will be back.

 

[fuzzle]

Hun i really think you need to eliminate one problem at a time!!! this is what i did, if i was you get her teeth, tack, and a pro equine oystepath to access her back, Mark Windsor, or Bruce Hewitt both travel around this country!! i would defo put her on Gatroplus within a month if it is ulcers you will have a different horse!!! I take it she is a mare? your vets should of done an internal examination and scan to make sure she has no cysts on her overies has this causes massive pain!! i went and did all this and the final straw was a gastroscope which showed she had ulcers, her back was also out has she had been holding herself tight and wrong with the pain so there was two issues with mine ulcers and back, but like i say i used gg for 6 weeks and was heartbroken when she never changed!!xx

 

[Fruitcake]

I tried Gastro Plus after reading some reccomendations for it. Have to say, it had absolutely no effect whatsoever on my horse. I found the information I was given on it rather vague too. I was assured that within a few weeks, I'd see a completely different horse etc, etc. but every question I asked regarding how it worked was never actually answered.

I'm trying Ex-Egus from my vet now so will see how that goes.

I hope you manage to sort things with your horse OP.