Stomach ulcers

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MagicMelon

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I think my new horse may have stomach ulcers, having looked on a few websites he does seem to display most of the symptoms. I'm not going to have him scoped as dont really want to put him through that. Im wondering though, looking at the crazy cost of ulcer supplement/treatments, is there more natural things I can try? Are there any herbs for example?

Maintenence-wise, I know turnout is a big thing and forage etc. He's spent most of his life fully stabled so I have spent the last few months getting him used to turnout and he's now happily out all day every day. I intend to keep him out overnight too as soon as the weather improves (and I can trust him not to jump out!), so he will be out permanently all year round with access to stables whenever he wants. He gets ab lib hay. Ive taken him off conditioning cubes that he was on and increased his Alfa A and speedibeet instead. I also read that he shouldnt be worked on an empty stomach which I never do, he is ridden straight from grass and at events he always has a haynet. I'm trying to keep life as stress-free as possible and he seems pretty chilled out compared to how he was when he arrived. What else can I do to help him? Do ulcers "cure" themselves with this sort of maintenence or do I HAVE to feed one of the various very expensive supplements which claim to help them?
 
Have been through a similar experience OP, but actually found with a small tweak to his diet (adding feedmark ulcer calm & Dengie Healthy Tummy) he returned to being a lovely horses again, and we went out show jumping and got on really well... then we had the snow, and then he got a hoof abscess so was on box rest for about 5 days... he got so bad, I spoke to my vet who said that he wouldnt advise scoping and to have the trial course of GastroGuard - which is the only treatment that will 'heal' ulcers. The change in my horse has been dramatic. If your horse is insured, and your Vets agree, get the GG trial, its been a revalation for me, my horse is just a superstar to ride/tack up/groom etc etc. now, I couldnt be happier!
 
Sorry that makes it sound like I've only used 7 days, he's on week 2 at the moment but haven't had an invoice for the 2nd batch yet?
 
The only way to diagnose ulcers is via scope. My horse has been in today for a re-scope. He was diagnosed two weeks ago. I was convinced and over-ruled my primary vet who said that he didn't have them, to get him in elsewhere. Turns out he has 12 plus grade 3 ulcers. Nasty.

Anyway, there has been a huge improvement in two weeks. Gastrogaurd (one a day), sucralfate (14 twice a day).

His management was pretty good but he had an injury which caused pain and hence acid.

Vets advise ad lib forage, ideally in various places so the horse has to roam around. Chaff fed 30 minutes before work/travelling/stress inducing activities, as much turn out as possible, consistent worming programme (counts and wormer twice a year), careful work regime never pushing the horse beyond reasonable limits, care around fast work (when acid gets splashed around more than usual) a companion. The usual stuff frankly, but it can be so easily forgotten when life/yard routines/dreams take over. Good luck!
 
I'm sure my new horse had them, he was senstive to being touched, miserable on circles, bucked if you put your leg on, bit when you did his girth and was a moody, sad, so and so.
Three months on and plenty of turnout, ad lib haylage, decent worming and a sensible diet he is like a new horse, you can now do anything wirh him and he has forgotten how to put his ears back.
So, not conclusive as I never had him scoped, but a huge change and I'm sure management fixed it.
 
I know I'm gonna get crucified, but you could go for the Abler products. About 1/4 of the price, and exactly the same as GastroGard... just slightly illegal so its hard to get into Europe. They have a website and you can order through them.
 
Gastroguard/Omazeprole is the only 'cure' for ulcers, all the off the shelf and herbal supps will do is lessen the symptoms, they won't cure them.

I have one horse at the mo who shows symptoms, we are arranging to have him scoped but as it's believed the cause of the ulcers is pain from elsewhere(neck injury) so we are trying to deal with that first.

There are steps you can take to ease the discomfort. Working them off grass or a haynet isn't always enough. My vet recommends a double handful of an unmollassed chaff before work - all of ours get a 'snack' before work now as a routine - and a good Pro-biotic. Alfalfa is recommended as its high in calcium and the diet should be as free from molasses as it possibly can be. I use Protexin Gut Balancer which isn't hideously expensive at all (£23 and it lasts up to 2 months)

Dengie 'Happy Tummy' is a complete feed with Protexin pre and pro-biotics already added, I know of someone who now feeds it to their horse (who has completed a course of GG) and is doing really well on it.
 
My friends new horse probably has ulcers, we decided against scoping and GG firstly because of cost, secondly because of stres to the horse and thirdly because GG 'cures' only gastric ulcer and can cause/exacerbate hind gut ulcers.

For this reason we are using egusin.
 
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