Stomach ulcers?

Irishcobs

Irishcobs

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We have a 4yr old TB on the yard, she has been here about 3-4 weeks now. She windsucks like a trooper. Even time we are on the yard she is windsucking. She wears a crib coller but unless we completely strangle her it doesn't seem to be helping. We have tried smothing crib box and other nasties on the door and manger (where she windsucks the most) but she will still do it.
When she is worked she later that day gets colic like symptoms ie. she paws, lies down, fleamens etc. It never develops to full blown colic and the vet came out the first time but has now suggested just giving pain killers and to ring him if she gets worse.
She is a very stressy mare to ride and throws tantrums.
I was thinking she could possibly have stomach ulcers which hurt her when she stresses about work and there for make her react with the colic symptoms.
What do you guys think? I am going to talk to the owners about Coligone to see if it helps her as she is for sale but we can't sell her like this.
 
Yes, ulcers a very strong possibility. IMO using a cribbing collar is not very nice. Lots of horses with ulcers crib to ease the pain and using a collar stops them from carrying out a behaviour that helps. Also, painkillers such as bute can actually make them worse. Is the horse from a racing yard? Ulcers are very common in racehorses because of the high cereal diet and long periods without food. Here is some more info:

http://www.horsemagazine.co.uk/pdf/ulcers.pdf
http://www.rockenhayne.com/page6.html
 
Horse was bred by owner and has apparently always windsucked.
Crib coller was not my idea and I don't have a lot of say in it, nor the nasty tastes on the door.
Thanks for the links I shall read them now.
 
I bought B from his breeder and he's always had miserable tendencies - which were worse when he had ulcers. Knowing the history doesn't mean she doesn't have them if that makes sense?

In all honesty I would advise the owner to get horse scoped - it's only a couple of hundred quid (though treatment is megabucks!) and coligone won't cure them though it may alleviate the symptoms. The only thing which has been clinically proven to cure them is gastrogard (a proton pump inhibitor) which is prescription only, but some horses also need antibiotics to cure them too, so it really does need vet intervention if the owner will stump up for it. Would advise that they are heavily insured though! If the scope comes back clear then if they want to sell, they are probably going to need some further investigative work if they want to sell her I'd guess.
 
Hi Irishcobs,

Is it possible to turn this young horse out? My gut feeling (pardon the pun!!) is that she's a young, lively TB, who can't cope with being stuck in a box, + needs to go, go, go!!

I believe it's always worth looking at the cause of the problem (ie windsucking in her case), rather than trying to stop an existing problem by physical means.

If a horse has an ulcer, then surely we need to ask ourselves, as their 'herd leaders' + owners/trainers/riders, why this has happened.

If, indeed, she does have an ulcer? Has your vet diagnosed an ulcer?

You have a young TB on your yard, she's recently moved yards. She's going to be totally stressed out - by her breed, her age, + her change in her home.

My own view is contrary to the 'ulcer' view, but rather encompasses a wider view of horsemanship. Ie - reasons explained above.

Best wishes, BS

PS: Tell us a little about the owners, + the little mare's previous life? Pretty please?
 
Agree about getting the horse checked out..

In the meantime I would scrap the collar as this will likely cause more stress. Cribbing is a habit and to prevent a horse doing it is going to make it more stressed therefore want to do it even more.
I would feed a fibre based diet and make sure the horse has ad lib hay/haylage and as much turnout as possible.
Pink Powder helped enormously when my TB x first arrived.
My boy is well in his teens and has obviously cribbed all his life but now only really cribs at feedtime IF he has somewhere to do it. If he's fed out in the field he doesn't but does if fed in his stable and definitely if you look at him
wink.gif
 
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