Sorry long - what can cause sudden girthiness/discomfort?

redandblue

redandblue

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Sorry another long post ...............My IDx mare is causing me some headaches. After six weeks off following a shoulder (soft tissue) injury she has started to be brought back into work slowly 10-15 minutes at a time. However, since starting this she has become acutely sensitive to the girth and will nip when you do it up (slowly hole by hole) - her whole demeanor changes and she becomes agitated. My first reaction was to find what was causing her pain/discomfort but I've drawn a blank. No girth galls or sore spots or any sign of external irritants and I've added a sheepskin girth sleeve. My second thought was internal - ulcers perhaps? Both my vet and Physio have initially dismissed this as unlikely as she is presently on 24/7 turnout with ad lib hay and very little stress. But she was on bute and box rest for 10 days a little while ago - can this cause ulcers to form and so quickly? Anyway, the last time we rode (10 minute hack) she started to get very stressed and was turning and biting at the girth (she has not shown signs of girthiness when ridden until the last time), followed by manically grabbing at the bit, spinning and running sideways (as if running from the pain???). I obviously got off and checked her over and walked her back up to the yard (she was also fairly manic being led back too - very out of character).I am having the vet back out to see what is going on, but her teeth were done a month ago and her saddle was fitted in September. People have commented and said they reckon she is taking the p*** but my gut is telling me that it's pain. I just don't know what else could be causing this extreme reaction? My fear (as mentioned earlier) is the possibility of ulcers but she's not off her food,has a good coat, normal belly sounds, is a little on the porky side due to 6 weeks rest, no signs of colic etc etc and is only stressed when tacked up/ridden (although only just started to react to being ridden).I hate seeing her distressed and have not ridden since the melt down obviously. She had her back checked by saddler, vet and physio and did not display any symptom of back pain or discomfort (other than the recent reaction to her girth region). Even her shoulder injury appears to be resolved with no reaction to pain. I know the vet may shed some light when she comes out but in the meantime, I'm worried sick about her as she has never reacted like this before, and I don't know where to start. :(
 
My very first thought was ulcers. She is displaying classic signs. Yes, they can easily form in a matter of days and once there will not heal by themselves. Also they have been linked to injuries etc that have caused stress because of pain.
 
I think stress + bute would exacerbate any tendency to ulcers, Danilon is supposed to be kinder to the digestion. And if she was ever without food while on box rest, the acid in the stomach could do damage very quickly - it is difficult to keep food available when they are doing nothing else but eat. Worth checking out or treating as though she does IMO.
 
Thank you for commenting so quickly. I'm sure the vet will recommend I have a scope done, if nothing else but as a diagnostic. I wasn't sure about the danillon causing ulcers so quickly, thank you for confirming. That is the only thing that makes sense as I mentioned she doesn't have the typical symptoms of weight loss or loss of appetite etc.I will ask the vet regarding damage to the sternum but after six weeks of being seen by the vet and physio I would have hoped it would have been picked up before now. But you never know..
 
I'm thinking ulcers too. She's showing the classic signs, the injury + box rest could cause the stress and the Danilon would irrate them further.

"but she's not off her food,has a good coat, normal belly sounds, is a little on the porky side" - my horse was all these things and had Grade 3/4 ulcers and he only showed aggression when brushing off and saddling up, he was fine to ride
 
Thanks all, I seem to have a couple of things to quizz the vet on now. I forgot to mention when she is tacked up she kicks up with her fronts. I suppose that's another vote for ulcers :( As she has a veterans insurance policy (external injury only) I guess its going to mean taking out a small mortgage to cover the cost of GG l-)
 
Yep, sounds like ulcers to me... they can occur scarily quickly... my boy went on a GastroGuard trial without scoping (we determined his ulcers were stress related after i moved him around when i bought him - so scoping would just be added stress (they have to be starved beforehand) - may be worth seeing if this is possible - i think 1 weeks worth of GG is ~£200, if scoping is a smiliar cost may be worth a try...

I'd also start looking into supplements for the longterm, Alltech Lifeforce gets my vote!
 
Thanks guys. Sounds like a whole lot of googling needs to be done. My knowledge and experience with ulcers is zilch. Hay-ho, I will wait until my Vet has seen her then I will look into supplements etc. I guess what you're referring to is a product that lines the stomach to prevent acid? I've also been trying to find out some info on damage to the sternum and can't seem to find anything relevant.
 
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