Scoping for ulcers

[MereChristmas]

Here is the update.

T has grade 2 squamous gastric ulcers. She is to have oral omeprazole treatment. Hopefully she will be more comfortable from now on.

I’m so glad I listened to her and did something about it!

That was F’s result too.
We did injections as he hates syringes plus Sucralfate

 

[dreamcometrue]

That was F’s result too.
We did injections as he hates syringes plus Sucralfate

T isn’t keen on the syringe either! We did it through the holes in the side of her grazing muzzle which worked quite well

She will have Sucralfate after the course of Omeprazole.

Did you get F rescoped later on to check they had cleared up?

 

[MereChristmas]

T isn’t keen on the syringe either! We did it through the holes in the side of her grazing muzzle which worked quite well

She will have Sucralfate after the course of Omeprazole.

Did you get F rescoped later on to check they had cleared up?

F would have been fine to syringe once or twice but not daily. I know it would’ve spoilt him for worming.

Yes, we did a second scope. The ulcers were healing well but not fully healed so F was given 2 more 1/2 dose jabs.
I used 2 pots of Sucralfate and then NAF Gastriaid ( on vets advice )

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

T isn’t keen on the syringe either! We did it through the holes in the side of her grazing muzzle which worked quite well

She will have Sucralfate after the course of Omeprazole.

Did you get F rescoped later on to check they had cleared up?

I rescoped 6 weeks later and they had mostly cleared bar a few stubborn ones so had another 6 week course of omeprazole (injections) and sucralfate. I didn't bother scoping again after that on vets advice and from monitoring her closely.

 

[DawnS]

Not wishing to derail this thread, but those who have treated ulcers with omeprazole, how long did it take to see a symptomatic difference? Been treating with esomeprazole for a week as vet though ulcers very likely and funds are limited (not insured). He seemed dramatically better on day 3 (i.e., not pulling faces to be saddled), but has since gone back to how he was.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Saw practically an immediate improvement (I was also using sucralfate) and never saw a decline sorry!

 

[Melody Grey]

Not wishing to derail this thread, but those who have treated ulcers with omeprazole, how long did it take to see a symptomatic difference? Been treating with esomeprazole for a week as vet though ulcers very likely and funds are limited (not insured). He seemed dramatically better on day 3 (i.e., not pulling faces to be saddled), but has since gone back to how he was.

If there has been a decline on omeprazole, you might want to consider hindgut ulcers? I believe omeprazole can have a negative impact on the hindgut, killing off bacteria if I remember correctly?

 

[Timelyattraction]

I would have expected to see a difference now its been a week. I got given 2 weeks of GG before a rescope. If i was you i would have scoped first. I know your trying to save £ because you’re not insured but a scope is approx £150. I got one of mine scoped who was also not insured and i was adamant she had ulcers however the scope showed she didnt so although it cost me £150 to scope i saved £££ in gastroguard if i had done what you did which is more expensive than the scoping itself and i also got the peace of mind that she didn’t have them whereas now i imagine your even more stressed because your treating for them ,thought you saw a difference but now gone back to how he was so your still none the wiser if he actually has them or not. How many more days of treatment have you been given? X

 

[Tiddlypom]

Two vets and me all thought my homebred was a shoo in for foregut ulcers based on her symptoms and general crankiness, but she scoped clear.

I’m not insured either, and my regular vet is always keen to cut out unnecessary procedures to keep my bills down, but she said we need to scope to find out what is going on. Thank goodness she did, it was hind gut ulcers (which can’t be scoped for) instead and gastroguard would have made them even worse.

I really don’t think that vets should be prescribing GG without scoping first. Scoping is not very expensive in the scheme of things.

 

[DawnS]

Thanks all. The vet first palpated his back and did a brief lameness examination including forelimb flexion tests, so it was difficult to imagine what else it could be if not ulcers, especially since he was noticeably worse on the left hand side - but I agree that treating blind has made for extra stress overall. I plan to discuss with my YO/instructor today and then ring the vet.
Incidentally his behaviour this week has been appalling, which is unusual. However it is only out hacking, not handled or in the school, so I think that's a red herring in terms of physical problems.

ETA: to complicate matter, horse has KS, diagnosed early this year, and has been injected and slowly rehabbed. Physio and vet were satisfied that his back is now pain free.