Think the ulcers are back! Please help!

kinnygirl1

kinnygirl1

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Also in vet...just in case anyone in here has any advice...

Stanley was scooped clear of his pyloric ulcers in May and we gradually weaned him off gg...it's now august and the nervous wreck behaviour is back with a vengeance, gradually getting worse over the last fortnight or so. I would say he is pretty much unrideable again now....his nerves are shredded( as are mine). He feels like a coiled spring, spooking at everything! even a car passing very slow and wide spoked a major melt down today.

I am gonna book ANOTHER scope in for this week but sat here worrying in the meantime. The insurance claim is nearly maxed out on this and I still don't have a horse I can even ride... I know that sounds selfish but I am so down and frustrated. I have done everything the vets said re management. Ad lib fibre all the time, no sugar in his diet... It has been a nightmare as he is a good doer who puts on weight at the drop of a hat.

Anyone got experience of ulcers returning? Give me some hope ....please!
 
We have had a couple of horses who were on Antepsin? I think that's how it's spelled, for a few days and now they are on to the new cheaper version of Gastro Guard and are being maintained on 100g a day. Not sure yet if this new lower daily dose will do anything or not, we are kinda being test dummies. But it may be something to discuss with your vet. The Antepsin is for instant relief of ulcer pain rather than the 2-3days it takes for GG to kick in.
 
EKW said:
We have had a couple of horses who were on Antepsin? I think that's how it's spelled, for a few days and now they are on to the new cheaper version of Gastro Guard and are being maintained on 100g a day. Not sure yet if this new lower daily dose will do anything or not, we are kinda being test dummies. But it may be something to discuss with your vet. The Antepsin is for instant relief of ulcer pain rather than the 2-3days it takes for GG to kick in.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that... This attack of ulcers...if that's what it proves to be, has come on really quick. I will defo ask my vet about antepsin as he seems so worried and unhappy.
 
To help with the fibre and not much weight gain could you feed barley straw as well as soaked hair? Would keep fibre going through the system but low cals.
Also you could try bicarbonate of sodia and calcium carbonate after using the GG.
 
Use peptizole, slightly cheaper than GG and 1 tube goes up to 750kg so will last longer. New product and has approval.

There must be some factors he's not comfortable with that haven't changed.

Is the yard always busy?
What do you feed him?
Does he get much turnout?
In a routine?
Ad lib hay?
Does he have friends?

I let mine live out for a year only bringing in when whether was horrific, he loved it. He has come back to his stable at night from the 1st November and has got a little grumpy so I have put him on a maintenance dose for a week.

I have been advised not to feed haylege, straw was also a no go. Under 10 starch and sugars.
 
If you can't get Antepsin then Gaviscon Liquid is a good alternative, recommended by my vet when my horse was in a dreadful state & I'd rapidly worked my way through all the local vets' supply of Antepsin. It works.
 
Topspec have just done a new feed that's supposed to help prevent ulcers/stomach lining getting as damaged by stomach acid. Spoke to someone at yhl about it and they seemed very knowledgeable so might be worth giving them a ring and seeing if you can have a sample? I got one for my mare and will be trying it in feb when I move her xx

Not saying it will cure but might help if you're wanting to come off gastro guard
 
Thanks all for replying - I actually first posted this thread in August when I was sure the ulcers were back... Anyway, I booked another scope. It was a real carry on as Stanley ate his own poo on the first night he was starved and had to stay an extra night in vet hospital muzzled - which stressed him so much he came out in hives! All that and he had no ulcers... stomach was as clean as a whistle. He had a full lameness work up and eye examination and no cause for the neurotic behaviour was found.

So, we are treating him as if he may have hind gut ulcers - as yet no dramatic improvement - and he is spending a month with a lovely professional who specialises in horses with anxious behaviour and seems to be making some progress with her. Living out 24/7 definitely helps him.

Thanks all for your support and suggestions!
 
Hi there

Just to add, I used GastroPlus - and not GG as I had heard that once treatment has been finished, back they come because as I'm sure you know, GG can't treat HGU. After his GastroPlus treatment I have put him Eugsin maintenance as I believe (rightly or wrongly!) that he will always need to be on it and as its completely herbal, will not harm.

I also feed simple system and micronised linseed. I also give a small feed before we do any work as it lines his stomach and if we're on a long hack, I will let him graze after 45 mins. Remember that their tummy's produce 1.5 l of acid an hour!!

Hope that helps. Good luck!
 
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