Reoccuring glandular ulcers

[Hollyl26]

I have a 21 year old cob x he lost his field mate of 19 years about 2 years ago as my horse kicked him in the field which broke his leg and he had to be PTS, my horse has never been the same since. He was diagnosed with glandular ulcers a few months after loosing his friend. He had medication from the vet which made no change to the ulcers, so I then was recommended to try abler I saw an improvement and started riding again. My horse then became agressive again and threw me off last year, he was trying very hard to get me off. I feel like this is due to the ulcers has he would never normally stop on the spot bronching to get me off! I have tried medication on and off but it is very difficult to get him to take it. He wont take syringe medication anymore just rears as soon as you take it in the stable. He was fine with it previously but now he’s a nightmare to even try and worm him. I have tried ponease and other medications but I didn’t see a change with those medications. I am currently trying to give him abler omeprazole again but it’s so hard to get him to take it in his feed. It’s been a lot of trial and error over the last few years and I’m really struggling with it all, I’ve had my horse since he was 1.5 years old so a long time. I would love for my horse to be back to how he was prior to loosing his friend so I can have a happy horse and maybe ride every now and then. I’m not so bothered about not being able to ride him I would just like for him to be happy. He just looks so sad in the stable and just paces the fence line for his friends. My mum has 2 horses who are in the fields next to my horse they are also stabled next to him. If one of them leaves the stable block he goes mad and tries to jump the stable door and gets really stressed it breaks my heart seeing him like that as he’s never been a horse that cares about others he is rather antisocial! My mum is making things difficult for me and I can’t afford to get another horse to be a companion to him. I’ve spent a lot of money on medication over the last few years. He has arthritis and has a few lumps on his front legs due to knocks in the field. He isn’t lame or anything. I’m not really sure what to do next, I have started to consider PTS because I just don’t want him to be stressed and in pain anymore but I’d been hoping he would be more settled now as it’s been a little while since his friend passed, but I just feel guilty and maybe that’s not what I should do. What would you do in situation?

 

[AandK]

Does he have company in the field with him?

 

[Bellaboo18]

He's telling you he wants a friend. Could you look at fostering a companion from a charity?

 

[GypsGal1718]

they need companions, they can get sleep deprived and a myriad of other issues without

 

[ycbm]

He had medication from the vet which made no change to the ulcers, so I then was recommended to try abler I saw an improvement and started riding again. I have tried medication on and off but it is very difficult to get him to take it. He wont take syringe medication anymore just rears as soon as you take it in the stable. He was fine with it previously but now he’s a nightmare to even try and worm him. I have tried ponease and other medications but I didn’t see a change with those medications. I am currently trying to give him abler omeprazole again but it’s so hard to get him to take it in his feed.

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you have this problem.

The vet prescribed drug used for ulcers is the same so if you saw an improvement it was because of the continuation of the treatment. Lots of horses need more than one round.

Importing from Abler is illegal so I wouldn't admit to that if I was you. If he won't eat it in his feed or take it in a syringe he needs the weekly injectable version.

And there is no point in treating the ulcers unless you remove the cause, which is probably that you keep him alone. He's making his feelings about that perfectly clear.

And yes, if you aren't able to get him a companion he can make a bond with and to treat the ulcers properly (it will cost a lot), then he would be better off if you have him PTS.
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[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I wonder if he has pain somewhere else, maybe arthritic pain, which prompted him to kick his companion. Has he had a thorough vet check/ workup to fid out what is going on? Older horses often do develop arthritis/ other problems, while ulcers are often a symptom of pain elsewhere.

 

[Hollyl26]

He has horses in the field next to him which he does groom over the fence but no one in the field with him. He does have arthritis in his back legs.
I can’t really afford to keep a second horse at the moment unfortunately

 

[Vodkagirly]

Can you offer free grazing for someone so he had a companion?
Other I would consider pts as it doesn't sound like he us happy.

 

[Timelyattraction]

No point treating the ulcers until you find the cause as they will keep coming back. It could be pain from his arthritis but could also be stress by the sounds of it so until youve sorted that out no point treating them as they will keep coming back.

I had the syringes for my horse for the glandular ulcers but i am sure they do have an injection as an option so perhaps you could talk to your vet about that?

 

[Hollyl26]

I’m not sure anyone would want to put their horse in the field with mine, since he kicked his last field mate and he was pts it just puts people off which I get. I’ve had my horse for about 19 years now and he was always out in a group of 3, the other 2 horses were my mums horses. He is the only one left from that group now due to the tragic field accident. My mum doesn’t want to put either of her horses in with him which I understand. Over the years he has tried to kick other horses when riding etc if they are too close. My horse will be happy out grooming over the fence with them for a while then when he is ready to come in he will pace the fence constantly and if he’s had enough will just run through the electric fencing into the field with one of the other horses. I haven’t done any exercise with him for a while due to his ulcers, even if you try and tack him up or put a roller on to lunge which I tried yesterday he just spins and tries to kick me. This is only something he has done since suffering with the ulcers. It just breaks my heart to see him stressed and in pain and would love nothing more than to have my old horse back. I just feel so stuck, I’d hate to have him pts but I don’t know if he will ever recover from losing his friend

 

[ycbm]

I just feel so stuck, I’d hate to have him pts but I don’t know if he will ever recover from losing his friend

It's a horrible situation, but if you are unable to finance several thousands to diagnose, then treat any ulcers found with injectable omeprazole, and get him a companion who he can bond with, then I'm afraid you're very short of options. Rehoming is one, but it's fraught with risk, and PTS is not the worst outcome for an unhappy old horse.
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