Re-scoping... or not?

[Ambers Echo]

As title. Deedee looks great now. Has regained the weight and is on week 4 of hacking with no issues. Vet wants to re-scope this week to make sure she is clear. And I can see the logic of that. On the other hand she is needle shy, it involves starving her and it's a horrid procedure. Not to mention the fact that she is not insured and it is not cheap. So an alternative would be to see how she goes in ridden work. She was pretty quick to tell us there was a problem in the first place. And re-scope if she starts bucking or showing pain/weight loss again but otherwise just leave it. Or is there a risk that I have under-treated and a scope would tell us we are nearly-there but not quite. I don't want to end up back at square one with an uncomfortable horse. What do others do?

 

[Roxylola]

Sounds horrid. I wouldn't repeat it

 

[Dyllymoo]

Personally would rescope.

 

[Fluffypiglet]

It's horrible having to starve them and the scope. But I did the second scope to make sure it had resolved and we had another box of the gastrogard to ensure they had definitely gone away as there were still some very minor signs on the second scope.That said, if he was unwell with ulcers again I'd not want to scope as I'm happy I understand him and his reaction well enough to judge.

 

[Ambers Echo]

I did the second scope to make sure it had resolved and we had another box of the gastrogard to ensure they had definitely gone away as there were still some very minor signs on the second scope.

Yes that's what I am worried about. Were there any other signs at the time of the 2nd scope?

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Sorry I'd also re-scope, Skylla was soo much better after treatment but scoping showed a couple of grade 1 ulcers remaining so another course of treatment and another scope were done to make sure they had totally gone. Skylla was pretty much back to normal, but the scoping showed she just needed that bit more treatment to completely get rid.

 

[Ambers Echo]

Ok thanks, very helpful to know.

 

[ihatework]

My vets generally wean them off the drugs slowly after the initial course - is be aiming to continue treatment on 1/4 syringe GG for another 4 weeks if you decide not to rescope

 

[Fluffypiglet]

Yes that's what I am worried about. Were there any other signs at the time of the 2nd scope?

At the time of the rescope he was much improved but it took a while longer for him to actually be well again. It's a difficult thing to quantify when you're in the middle of it. It was only much later that I realised he could improve further if that makes sense? He was mainly better and no actual ulcers left when we rescoped, just some striation (I think that's what they called it). We got one more box (very expensive) which we tapered dose down rapidly and I have used on an ad-hoc basis in the months following if there was any upset. His ulcers were caused by mental stress rather than a physical issue - he's now at a yard which appropriately panders to his needs but I have some syringes left just in case.

 

[SamBean]

Rescope definitely - One of mine was fine on his rescope - the other the gastroguard hadn't touched although in fairness it was his lower stomach and he was quite severe. I did find though that on the second scope the sensed what was coming up when I took away their food in the evening and were a lot better with it. The one that was fine had a half dose of the gastroguard after he scoped clear for another 2 weeks.

 

[itsokboah]

If she is not insured weigh up what is cheaper.
We get our ulcer medication straight from US from Abler. A month's treatment for both gut ulcers (omeprazole and absulfracate) is £350.

 

[Upthecreek]

I would re-scope, both for peace of mind and because if they haven’t completely cleared you will most likely be back at square one within a few weeks, which would be more expensive in the long run because you will need to start treatment from scratch again.

 

[Wheels]

I would rescope too - not worth risking a relapse

 

[ycbm]

If she is not insured weigh up what is cheaper.
We get our ulcer medication straight from US from Abler. A month's treatment for both gut ulcers (omeprazole and absulfracate) is £350.

Abler isn't a US company, it's Sri Lankan, I think, where the drugs are made. It works, it's a lot less than the vet supplies, but it is illegal to import it.

Nobody been prosecuted though .... yet.

 

[itsokboah]

I see, looking into it appears the company is Australian registered.

We were recommended it by several people who had had very good results and also a vet (shh).

One of the horses on the yard had been scoped for ulcers six times and had developed problems as a result of the scope accidentally going down his lung! So we chose to treat first with Abler instead of putting her through the trauma of a scope for a prescription and it worked for us.

It is a shame since the alternative is paying about £150 a wk for gastroguard..