Should I get my horse scoped for stomach ulcers?

[PJW_11]

I have a 4yo ISH - came to me 3.5 months ago (passed 5 stage vetting), over from Ireland and broken this July.

One day about 5 weeks ago, out of nowhere he showed signs of being quite uncomfortable - When I asked him to canter he kept spinning and runing away from my leg as if he was in pain. He did this a few times in the week or so after and and just doesn’t appear to be back to his old self since.

I have had his saddle checked, the physio, the vet and the dentist out and no one can find anything wrong. The physio said he was slightly sore in his girth area so I have now changed his girth to a prolite with a sheepskin cover and am very careful not to do it too tight. He’s still not right...

I am starting to wonder whether it could be ulcers as he has gone through quite a lot of change and stress over the last 6 month (he particularly finds travelling quite stressful).

A description of what he’s doing...

- ears Pinned back when being ridden
- particular resistant into canter, especially on right rein and often striking off on the wrong lead
- resitant to bending properly through body
- inconsistent in his contact, pulling reins out of my hands and lowering head

I realise some of these sound pretty normal for a recently broken four year old but it’s the fact he didn’t do any of the above for the first 2.5 months of owning him - he was super balanced and really enjoyed his work. I would class myself as quite an experience rider (ridden my whole life, evented up to intermediate level) so I would like to thinks it’s not me...

He doesn’t show signs of being girthy, likes being groomed and is a generally happy and loving horse. He hasn’t lost his appetite (out in the day, in at night) and he is sound and looks in good health.

I am now torn between giving him a holiday for 6 weeks and seeing if he is better when I bring him back (planning to give him a holiday anyway), or getting him scoped for stomach ulcers... He is insured so if they do find anything it should hopefully be covered - but I realise his symptoms aren’t that typical of stomach ulcers.

Any advice appreciated! Or suggestions on what else it could be. Oh if only horses could tell us what’s wrong ?

 

[doodle]

Yes I would get scoped. Soli wasn’t girthy, had a good appetite and perfectly happy to be groomed and ridden. However he was loosing weight and just not quite right. We had recently moved yard and he didn’t like it. He spent 2 days at the vets getting £2500 worth of tests and then they scoped and found the issue.

 

[Green Bean]

If I was to go on my horse's behaviour and ultimate diagnosis I would ask your vet about kissing spine. I started with chiropractor identifying pain just behind the withers and just before the hind end. She has similar behaviour to your, ears pinned back, not wanting to go forward, didn't bend well, wanting her head. Mine pulls faces when the girth is being done up. I had a trial of regumate, no difference, saddles checked, no difference, scope for ulcers, none found, x-ray - 2 kissing spine. Vet also thought there may be an issue with the sacroiliac joint. HOWEVER - your horse is awfully young for everything you have described. Did you take bloods when you bought to test if there was a change? Maybe the horse was in treatment for something that wasn't disclosed? Hope you get it resolved, it could just be as simple as horse maybe needing some time to grow into its frame?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sounds like it could be ulcers I think a lot of recently sold horses are prone from the stress of being moved new place new people it's a big change, my friend had a pony on loan that came from the breeder she had only ever lived there since birth, she got ulcers after a month of her being moved so whilst a lot of it can be caused by pain somewhere, I think a horse being moved can take it's toll and definitely cause them.

 

[PJW_11]

Oh gosh I hope it’s not kissing spine! The physio didn’t really pick up any issues other than the sore girth area - but I know they can’t always tell with kissing spine.

I have considered it could just be that he is young and growing... so maybe a rest will help. It’s just that it was quite a sudden change in ridden behaviour rather than gradual over time... And I worry about leaving it and being in the same situation in 6-8 weeks time.

I did have bloods taken... However I do trust the person I bought him off as have had one off him before.

If I was to go on my horse's behaviour and ultimate diagnosis I would ask your vet about kissing spine. I started with chiropractor identifying pain just behind the withers and just before the hind end. She has similar behaviour to your, ears pinned back, not wanting to go forward, didn't bend well, wanting her head. Mine pulls faces when the girth is being done up. I had a trial of regumate, no difference, saddles checked, no difference, scope for ulcers, none found, x-ray - 2 kissing spine. Vet also thought there may be an issue with the sacroiliac joint. HOWEVER - your horse is awfully young for everything you have described. Did you take bloods when you bought to test if there was a change? Maybe the horse was in treatment for something that wasn't disclosed? Hope you get it resolved, it could just be as simple as horse maybe needing some time to grow into its frame?

 

[PJW_11]

Yes I have a gut feeling (no pun intended) it might be ulcers. I just worry if they don’t find anything that is £475 spent on having him scoped that I won’t be able to claim on insurance.

Am waiting on a phone call from my vet to discuss the best course of action. I wasn’t sure if 6-8 weeks off of having no stress and with careful feeding, that any ulcers he may have might heal. But maybe I just need to rip the plaster off and get to the bottom of the issue before it gets any worse!

Sounds like it could be ulcers I think a lot of recently sold horses are prone from the stress of being moved new place new people it's a big change, my friend had a pony on loan that came from the breeder she had only ever lived there since birth, she got ulcers after a month of her being moved so whilst a lot of it can be caused by pain somewhere, I think a horse being moved can take it's toll and definitely cause them.

 

[lottiepony]

Trust your gut and get him checked. Least you are paying attention to what he is telling you and 5 weeks isn't long so well done.

Currently treating mine, I've had a nagging suspicion but he improved so felt happier again but then we took a huge backwards step so have reassessed. We've gone straight for treatment as he ticked a lot of boxes, so far 2 and 1/2 weeks off work and a week on Gastrogard and I would say we defo have a positive diagnosis of ulcers by looking at the change in him.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yes I have a gut feeling (no pun intended) it might be ulcers. I just worry if they don’t find anything that is £475 spent on having him scoped that I won’t be able to claim on insurance.

Am waiting on a phone call from my vet to discuss the best course of action. I wasn’t sure if 6-8 weeks off of having no stress and with careful feeding, that any ulcers he may have might heal. But maybe I just need to rip the plaster off and get to the bottom of the issue before it gets any worse!

I think you can still get paid out especially if recommended by your vet to do so, I would get it checked out best to treat a mild case and then hopefully with treatment they will clear up quickly.