salt licks & ulcers?

[dottylottie]

after having her scoped, diva has moderate pyloric ulcers & 2 little grade 1 squamous ulcers - i’ve not been able to find anything that says one way or the other, and nothing backed by science, hence my question…

do salt licks cause/worsen stomach ulcers?? some sources say no, some say yes, and i don’t know what to do! i know most would simply do away with it, but i’ve never met a pony that loves her salt lick more than diva, so if she can keep it i’d like to!

some sources said it increases the acidity levels of the stomach acid, but when she was scoped her stomach acid levels were normal, if at the high end of normal.

if anyone has any other maintenance/general info throw that my way too! i’d like to think they’re both already managed in a very ulcer-friendly way already as preventative measures, but the vets didn’t mention anything about management etc so i’m all ears. out as much as possible, big nets when she’s in plus a net of straw, ulcer friendly diet with soft chaff and brewers yeast (+other supplements). always ridden after her breakfast, or after being in the field all day so will make sure she always has chaff before exercise, and before travelling.

 

[AWinter]

I would imagine the level of salt they can get from a lick would be minimal, I feed my horses straight salt in their feeds and have had no issues.

 

[rara007]

Mine still had his lick in his stable. It lasts at least a month so I can’t see it impacting his stomach. Thankfully was not in a workload to need electrolytes.

 

[Traks]

I had similar thoughts but a salt lick is absolutely fine. I read something somewhere on it when researching what to feed mine who currently has ulcers!

 

[ponynutz]

If mine doesn’t have a salt lick she finds any bit of metal or human she can to lick - I would think, unless there’s a medical reason a normal salt intake could harm them or they’re misusing a salt lick, the amount of salt in a lick wouldn’t harm them.

I have no history with ulcers though and I’m not a vet!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I feed salt to mine but give Arabi a salt lick as well as he likes it Louis won't use one and never thought it had any associated issues with ulcers.

 

[Foxford]

It's been a long time since I used my chemistry A-level, but a solution of NaCl is not acidic. I would imagine it would cause irritation for an ulcerated digestive tract though? Like when you get saltwater in a cut. If a horse is seeking out the lick it would suggest that they don't feel any discomfort.

 

[Hobo2]

Dottie I have your mares twin sister she loves her himalayan lump salt . She always has a lick after her dinner or breakfast and I would hate to take it away from her . Mine is being scoped on wednesday so if is something I will ask . Hopefully as Foxford says I am sure if they felt bad after licking they wouldn't do it. The human dentists do recommend swilling with salt water for mouth ulcers ect so I am also guessing it should be ok.

 

[dottylottie]

Dottie I have your mares twin sister she loves her himalayan lump salt . She always has a lick after her dinner or breakfast and I would hate to take it away from her . Mine is being scoped on wednesday so if is something I will ask . Hopefully as Foxford says I am sure if they felt bad after licking they wouldn't do it. The human dentists do recommend swilling with salt water for mouth ulcers ect so I am also guessing it should be ok.

i’ve never known anything like it, she has to have a little pile of shavings underneath it because she makes such a mess and leaves a big puddle! she has the vet back out on friday for her next injection so it’s something i’ll ask, but i feel safe letting her keep it now!

aren’t they funny, lily had one in her stable for months untouched before i admitted defeat and concluded she’s not interested before giving it to diva

 

[Identityincrisis]

I read, when mine had ulcers and i was reading all I could, that a lot of horse’s won’t tolerate salt when they have ulcers, that was certainly true with mine (grade1/2) but now they’re cleared up he will accept it in his feed

 

[Nari]

I read, when mine had ulcers and i was reading all I could, that a lot of horse’s won’t tolerate salt when they have ulcers, that was certainly true with mine (grade1/2) but now they’re cleared up he will accept it in his feed

This is exactly what I found.

 

[Hobo2]

DL oh are you doing the four weekly injection treatment rather than the daily gastro guard paste tubes ?
If mine has them I wonder which is more easier to deal with?

 

[HopOnTrot]

Talking to my vet this week, she thinks esomprazole is more effective on squamous ulcers than omeprazole. It’s £600 a tub though so we are still on gastroguard whilst we find out if laser is an option for her issues.

Vet had said nothing about salt though.

 

[Traks]

Mine is on 4 weeks of gastroguard, not sure why they chose that rather an injections etc..hoping it works! He’s coping well with having to have it before feed in the mornings, not happy he has to wait for his breakfast though when everyone else is having theirs!

 

[dottylottie]

DL oh are you doing the four weekly injection treatment rather than the daily gastro guard paste tubes ?
If mine has them I wonder which is more easier to deal with?

Mine is on 4 weeks of gastroguard, not sure why they chose that rather an injections etc..hoping it works! He’s coping well with having to have it before feed in the mornings, not happy he has to wait for his breakfast though when everyone else is having theirs!

vet first suggested gastroguard, but she gets wise to a syringe after 2 or 3 days as i found out when i was giving sedalin to be able to do the rehab walks, and either wont let me get it in her mouth or spits it back out

i would also need to be up at 4:30am to be able to give it before feed & wait a half hour because i work 12hr shifts, and on the balance of it despite the injections not being pleasant i felt 4 injections was kinder than a pony with ulcers being stood with an empty tummy all night for a month!

just personal preference though and the vets were happy to go for the injections instead, and agreed that at least then we know it is having chance to do its job. she had the first at the vets whilst she was still high as a kite, so she only has 3 to put up wiyj

 

[Traks]

That’s very sensible, mine is on full livery so the girls are giving it to him otherwise I’d have to be up at 5am too! He it taking it ok though thankfully!

He’s allowed his night net they said it’s fine if he’s had hay overnight because by breakfast time he’s usually out of hay anyway so although not a totally empty stomach it should be fine for the GG to have an effect…let’s hope. Rescope is next Monday so we shall see

 

[HopOnTrot]

The injections are off license and they can have a reaction in the muscle afterwards that causes localised swelling.

It was one of our options this time but luckily my girl is fine with gastroguard, I can do her loose in the field now and worming is much easier after twice daily syringes of various things!