Stomach Ulcers anyone?

BigGinger

BigGinger

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Hi, I'm new to here and have a question/want some advice.

My boy is a ex racer had him for 2 years and he is 4 and a half now.
To cut a long story short, after having problems saddling up/mounting out of the blue after a perfect 6months and after a brand new saddle, physio, teeth done, took him to a horse whisperer and every check i can think of, my lad was still getting worse ( he would leap off all four and bronc, rear and gallop until i fell off or the saddle came off and be quivering with fear) and a few people mentioned stomach ulcers, and yes he has them.

He is being treated for ulcers and is on gastrogaurd daily for 30 days then wean him off it..

I have been doing research but this is all very new to me! I have changed his diet totally over a few weeks. But would like some reccomendations on good feeds that contain no cereal, high in fibre and to help maintain his weight.



Currently he is on Dengie Alfa-a oil, Suger beet and a high fibre mix (the mix is what i want to change) but he needs something that will keep him interested in his feed as he looses interest in the alpha and beet on its own. He also has pink powder, magnitude and a little salt added.



I'm abit confused as feeding is so hard trying to get it right! and the last thing i want to do is keep changing his feeds.. Once he is off his meds management is going to be the biggest thing for us... arhhhhhhhhh



P.s i'm going to ring some feed lines up buts its having the time in opening hours! im so busy its trying to find the time

Thanks in advance
 
Speak to Kate at Coligone (google Coligone) she told me that sugar beet aggravates ulcers. Coligone is very good for treating ulcers. Also Electra salts can cause ulcers and certainly aggravate them. Kate is well worth talking to and is a very pleasant lady.
 
My 4 year old mare is going in to be scoped for ulcers tomorrow! (I’m quite nervous about it all!)

I’m 99% sure she has ulcers but as you know, insurance companies won’t pay out for gastroguard without the horse being scoped so off we go tomorrow.

I have done lots of research and read so many articles etc. from all over the world! This, by no means, says that I’m an expert though; there is a lot of conflicting information and opinions out there!

My mare struggled with her weight a lot (she was really quite skinny) but the dietary changes that I have made so far have led to weight gain. I had to consider what was actually preventing her from putting weight on and moved away from the traditional feeding beliefs.

She went from being on haylage, Alpha A Oil and a large amount of blue chip conditioning mix to hi-fi lite and hay.

Traditionally, you would probably expect weight loss with that change but it was the opposite. She was not putting weight on before because she used up so much nervous energy (probably because of the sugary/carbohydrate-filled food and the fact that her stomach hurt).

You may find that your boy is less picky about his food now his tummy has been settled.

Moving forward, I’m going to feed my mare on the following:

Ad lib hay/grass,
alfalfa (or unmolassed chaff from Simple Systems),
brewer’s yeast (Charnwood Milling),
yea saac (Metabolic Horse),
aloe vera (Forever Living),
seaweed (does take a little for them to get used to this, Charnwood Milling),
micronised linseed (Charnwood Milling),
magnesium oxide (Barefoot Basics)
and agnus castus (this is more for hormonal mares, Barefoot Basics).

If she does need anything more it will be:
grass nuts (Simple Systems)
and some Speedibeet (it’s important that any sugarbeet that you feed is unmolassed).

I may give her a feed with some calcium carbonate in it 15 minutes before I work her.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how successful this has been yet but from all of the research I have done, these elements seem to cover all of the recommended and proven aids to horses with gastric ulcers.

Although feeding straight supplements seems a bit of a faff at first, it works out far more economical and effective than feeding a balancer (often ‘padded-out’ and with insufficient quantities of each element).

As I said, I’m not an expert but I hope this helps! Please keep my posted on how your boy gets on.

Ps… did he improve quite quickly on the gastroguard or did it take a while? How was he when you were administering it everyday!?
 
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Winenergy food is for ulcers as is Rowan Barbary ready mash.

Top spec cool condition cubes is cereal free.

As for supplements for gastric Ulcers I was told by a Vet specialist who deals with ulcers in horses from a leading vet uni that they all a waste of money the only thing that will do anything to manage or prevent ulcers is omeprazole which is sold under the name Gastro Guard. All these product that "claim" to help ate just a waste of money. He also said feed no cereals , alpha a is the best as it's got long fibre's and just feed with a balancer and something like alpha beat or something like winergy
 
My poor doer TB had them in the spring, I'm feeding speedibeet,linseed,spillers conditioning fibre & TS cool condition cubes. These are all suitable as a diet for horses that have had ulcers. The vets advised ERS pellets or releve, I found the releve expensive but have just started introducing the ERS pellets. He's also turned out all day & has adlib haylage at night & is bedded on straw & often has a nibble at that as well!
 
Onemoretime is that all suger beets including speedi beet which is unmollassed? i thought speedi beet would have been a good option but have been thinking between fast fibre and speedi beet.

Thanks abitodd, i've filled that out will be interesting to get feedback!

Iudall, i have been looking at feed plans off the web and its all to confusing :) but is worth looking into everything. Kero seems to be really well but as his behaviour is partly learnt too its hard to tell if he's improved just off the gastrogaurd. he has got alot better behaved and alot more relaxed around his saddle. As for the syringes everyday my boy has been brilliant, i did worry he may start to get fed up having a 'Wormer' type thing everyday and start to play up but he's been a little treasure and doesnt spit it out.
 
P.S I hope you find the solution quickly for your mare and start to settle her tummy. And dont wory about the scope it was amzing for me to watch and was worried how kero would react but he was the best patient i could have asked for and wasnt as bad as i thought
 
Your vet will advise you about feeding but I would be careful of adding too many supplements to your horses diet.
I feed mine add lib haylage , they also get a net of hay they get Alfa oil or ALfa A and readigrass they get a balancer . They have forage continuously and all maintain weight well feed like this . On the add lib haylage I never have needed to add sugar beet to their diet as weight is never an issue. They do a variety of work including hunting so manage well on this .
I always let them have haylage during travel and when then 20 mins before they are ridden before they come off the lorry they are given a small meal of either Alfa Oil or readigrass with a little oil added if that's what they eat easier.
Alfalfa is high in calcium and it's good in there diet.
They are turned out every day but are brought in in winter as soon as they start hanging around the gate ( so point of standing in field not eating).
I avoid mixing feeds before meals they are done for the 24 hours while they are in the field and stacked in dustpins because I noticed that the first horse I bought with ulcers became uncomfortable when she heard me mixing feeds.
My vet gave me a great sheet after the scoping with loads of advice on managing them
My final advice would be to rescope in a while to see if the ulcers have stayed away then you know you have got it right.
Hope this helps good luck.
 
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