Gastro guard and sucrulfate not working?!

[ChelseaGostomska]

So I got a new horse and got him scoped as his performance dropped, on scoping he was diagnosed with grade 4 bleeding ulcers.

He was prescribed 6 Omeprazole injections and a months worth of sucrulfate.

It has now been six weeks since he was scoped, I have seen no improvement in his weight, not much improvement in his willingness to work.

I had a full lameness work up done the day before he got scoped to check if he was lame at all. He was completely sound, he only been five stage that two months prior to this with full set of 66 x-rays, my Vet even scanned areas of his body.

He also had blood taken and there was nothing abnormal in his bloods.

He is due to start a month course of misoprostol next week and we will re scope in a months time.

So my question is has anybody known of any horses that have not responded well to Omeprazole and sucrulfate? He looked well when I bought him, was forward going, shiny coat, and just kept declining after he arrived to us! Also has developed dandruff / itchy mane at the base of his mane.

He also feels very odd when I ride and that when I squeeze with my legs in trot his tummy feels as though it contracts when I do so.

 

[TheMule]

Have you run bloods to check internal health? It sounds like there could be something more systemic going on

 

[ChelseaGostomska]

Have you run bloods to check internal health? It sounds like there could be something more systemic going on

Hey, yes we ran bloods, nothing abnormal.

 

[nagblagger]

If he was mine i would give him time off work to 'relax', the medication maybe trying to work but he is still stressed causing increased release of acids etc.

 

[ChelseaGostomska]

If he was mine i would give him time off work to 'relax', the medication maybe trying to work but he is still stressed causing increased release of acids etc.

He’s already been off for 4 weeks as I stopped working him before he was scoped. I’ve only been riding the last week very lightly. It’s important for him to come back into work so he’s doesn’t lose too much muscle.

 

[Pinkvboots]

4 weeks is not that long for ulcers I would speak to your vet about continuing with the ulcer meds a bit longer, I've known horses to have to be on them for a good few months before any improvement.

I wouldn't worry about his muscles for now you need to get him well so until you are sure they have healed I wouldn't be riding.

Another consideration is what you are feeding him has his diet changed much compared to what his previous owners were feeding, also his management may be totally different so could be causing him to stress.

Especially as you say his become scurfy might be an idea to stop the feed and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Lots of good advice above, I would also ask the vet about hind gut ulcers

 

[paddy555]

He’s already been off for 4 weeks as I stopped working him before he was scoped. I’ve only been riding the last week very lightly. It’s important for him to come back into work so he’s doesn’t lose too much muscle.

but you can't really work a horse that is in pain from ulcers. If he is unwilling to work and you know he has ulcers it points to pain. You can't expect a horse to work in pain. I think you will have to rest him until he has finished the misoprostol course to give it time to work and his ulcers time to heal .

He sounds to have gone downhill a lot since he moved home. I would be looking at that change to see what has gone wrong. What regime he came from ie stabled, field, company etc etc and his food and forage. Then look at your set up, feed etc and try to see the difference.

 

[Melody Grey]

As others have said, 4 weeks is not especially long for treating ulcers, especially grade 4 ones. I had a long fight with my horse (in profile pic). We tried karidox antibiotic alongside treatment which got things moving, so must have been the ulcers were infected.

My vet prescribed Gastrokind supplement which may also have helped (it’s expensive so I really hope it did!!)

Check out diet to ensure you’re not adding sugar or aiding excess acid production. Mine was on alfalfa chaff and nothing else (still is!). I was also advised by my vet to feed corn oil though I understand now, a few years on, that’s no longer advised, though I have to say it seemed to help mine gain condition.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Mine had grade 4 bleeding ulcers quite a long time ago now but it took about 3 months to get rid of them. Then they came straight back again.
Horse went back for another lameness work up with a specialist, could not find any lameness flexed sound etc.
On the lunge they noted a minimal shortness of stride through the RH so x rayed the hock on a whim, found very mild changes , injected with steroids, ulcers gone within a couple weeks and never returned.

 

[Meredith]

My pony had Grade 2 ulcers. He had 4 x 1 gastroguard injections plus 2x 1/2 jabs plus 2 months of Sucralfate plus 6 months of NAF GastriAid plus a complete change of care and routine. It took longer than you have given your horse for the ulcers to heal.

 

[paddy555]

My pony had Grade 2 ulcers. He had 4 x 1 gastroguard injections plus 2x 1/2 jabs plus 2 months of Sucralfate plus 6 months of NAF GastriAid plus a complete change of care and routine. It took longer than you have given your horse for the ulcers to heal.

my horse had sucralfate for a gut problem (not ulcers) 2 months wasn't enough, he was in it for nearly 3 months. The vet didn't realise it was so important to him and the horse went backwards when the sucralfate stopped. Back on and a very big difference.

it seems to be clear from what posters experienced with ulcers are saying ie that the horse is going to need a long spell off work and then to start again.

 

[Timelyattraction]

My vet said 4 weeks is not long enough. Normally scope again at 4 weeks and then again at 8 weeks but it’s rare that there’s a lot of improvement on the 4 week scan