How often are ulcers just ulcers

J

Jacksie

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 March 2021
Messages
132
Visit site
One of my horses has been diagnosed with ulcers (Squamous and Glandular). We scoped as I noticed he just wasn’t quite right. It was subtle, he wasn’t lame but seemed a bit stiff/lacking energy. He is an anxious type but is managed in what I would consider an ulcer friendly way - plenty of turnout, not left without hay for long period, a low starch diet etc.

We are treating the ulcers but my concern is what caused them. It could have been stress from a move as I’ve not had him that long but I don’t want them to return if I’ve not found the cause. So I suppose what I’m wondering is how often are ulcers ‘just’ ulcers?
 
It will probably be the stress of the move. Hopefully once he settles and with treatment, correct management, feeding chaff before riding and ensuring he doesn’t go for periods without hay, things should improve.
 
Also, there is a theory that you should do everything you can do encourage a good gut biome - admittedly more of the research has been done on humans but it makes sense.

There are various threads on here - the oily herbs one springs to mind.

Pro biotics are also often recommended.
 
From my reading up...People often say there is an underlying cause ...but that's with squamous ulcers. The cause of glandular ones isn't as well understood and it might be the balance of chemicals/hormones in the gut.

My horse had both types after a painful injury and vet hospital stay. Both cleared up. However he is also a bit stressy and my hunch is he is prone to them but I honestly don't think there is a physical problem in his case. I feed Feedmark Ultimate Ease to help keep his stomach soothed. I notice he usually only ever shows slight signs (pawing on girthing) when the spring or autumn grass is coming through.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies and input. I will certainly try improve his gut biome but there’s limited changes I can make on the management front as I’ve pretty much being doing everything that’s recommended, which is why I’m worried there may be another underlying cause. He’s been with me for a few months so I wondered if stress related ulcers would have healed once he had settled in.
 
Jacksie said:
Thanks everyone for your replies and input. I will certainly try improve his gut biome but there’s limited changes I can make on the management front as I’ve pretty much being doing everything that’s recommended, which is why I’m worried there may be another underlying cause. He’s been with me for a few months so I wondered if stress related ulcers would have healed once he had settled in.
Click to expand...
Not an expert but I think once they start they can just exacerbate themselves, even if the original instigating stress is gone. They won't necessarily heal themselves once the horse is back to being at a "normal" level of stress. Only thing you can really do in this case is keep a close eye once they are healed, I think. If they come back then start looking for other causes and in the meantime just keep keeping him in as ulcer-friendly a way as possible.
 
I think some vets think ulcers come and go, and there isn’t much point treating them, versus resolving all causes of pain and stress and feeding in an ulcer friendly way.

My old vet certainly didn’t think you treat ulcers first, more you try and find and address the source of the problem, and if once resolved still have an ulcer problem treat it then, else will keep on needing to treat ulcers.

My old horse had ulcers, treated and cleared. When had back and soundness issues a year or so later, and was at vet hospital my local vet said no point rescoping, as he would obviously have the ulcers back. I did rescope and they weren’t back. So I guess it’s not clear cut.

I would get as much as possible addressed now, diet, lifestyle, access to forage etc.

I’d also look at other basics, foot balance x-rays, physio check up, soundness check, saddle check just in case missing something, and the ulcers are the early warning sign of this.
 
smolmaus said:
Not an expert but I think once they start they can just exacerbate themselves, even if the original instigating stress is gone. They won't necessarily heal themselves once the horse is back to being at a "normal" level of stress. Only thing you can really do in this case is keep a close eye once they are healed, I think. If they come back then start looking for other causes and in the meantime just keep keeping him in as ulcer-friendly a way as possible.
Click to expand...
A friend has had a few young competition horses, she typically buys them cheap after they've proved too tricky for their previous owners. They've usually been stabled and schooled and pushed too much too soon, so she sorts them out by turning out 24/7 and hacking. They have all had ulcers from the stress of their previous lifestyles, and they all needed treating (i.e. they didn't just heal themselves once in a less stressful routine). So I would second @smolmaus 's post.
 
got one atm being treated.

we have done x rays and scans of all the obvious suspects and found NOTHING (the only thing left to try is medicating the SI as he doesn't respond consistently to nerve blocks)

he has had a complete feed change (from chaff based to mash based)and a couple of slight management tweaks (hay 24/7even when plenty of grass and split feeds in to 3 not 2) and is feeling MUCH better, he is back in about 85% normal work load so i just have to see how he progresses over the next 2/3 months as we taper the medication off completely
 
Thanks all, that’s given some reassurance. I’m going to take him for a lameness work up after the treatment ends to put my mind at rest and would feel better once hocks and SI is ruled out. I might be over thinking but can’t quieten down the niggle in the back of my head
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top