Ulcer Management & Weight Gain

[MrsMurs]

Hi there. I’m new to the forum but have been reading (lurking I think is the term ) for a while. Just wondering if I’m missing something/anyone has suggestions regarding management of a mare with ulcers?

I help on a small, private yard just three mornings a week, looking after six ponies. Routine is as follows: 7 o’clock arrive and turn out ponies into paddocks. Muck out, yard jobs, then bring ponies in at lunch time when they are also fed. The ponies are then stabled for the rest of the day, those in work are ridden/lunged pm, the owner checks them/hays etc. at teatime/night.

The mare in question (14hh part thoroughbred/retired due to stifle injury and has been bred from) started showing symptoms of ulcers towards the end of last summer - mouthing, stressy and restless in the stable etc. In consultation with the vet she was started on Ulcer Guard. After a month or so on this there was a noticeable difference in her in that she appeared settled, no mouthing, foaming, just seemed so much happier in herself.

Late autumn it became apparent that she was gaining weight - the owner was quite pleased as the mare is considered a 'poor doer'. At the same time it was decided to switch her feed from Calm and Condition to Fast Fibre.

She now has FF, plus her usual scoop of Dengie Hi Fi Lite, Top Spec Balancer Lite, added micronised linseed, garlic and ulcer guard, then Ad Lib hay in the stable.

However, the mare has continued to gain weight and is now starting to look ‘cresty’, nor can I can’t feel her ribs. The weigh tape suggests she hasn’t put any more weight on since Christmas, but understandably the owner is concerned, especially with spring on the horizon.

So, we have introduced soaking her hay overnight. She is rugged (Last winter she had two rugs on at night, this winter she has just one medium weight rug on - She hasn’t got a particularly thick coat and is generally a pony who feels the cold).

Other than the Ulcer Guard and FF, none of her management/diet has changed.

I understand that weight loss is a symptom of ulcers, so could it be that the Ulcer Guard is 'doing its job' and the contributing factor to her weight gain? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what else could be tried to help bring her weight down/prevent further weight gain, other than her current management?

Many thank in advance

 

[be positive]

Soaking her hay will reduce the sugars and should help, why does she get so much feed? she shouldn't need FF and HiFi they are both fibre, the balancer will be giving her the vits and mins so keep her on that and reduce the linseed, it is good for the ulcers but very high in calories so cut that down to a token. I would also stop the garlic as that can irritate the gut and actually cause ulcers in some cases.
Having more condition will mean she is warmer, I would probably take the rug off on dry days or just use a lighter one if you have to, it has been a very easy winter for most this year, the grass kept growing and although it has been wet it has been very mild, mine have all done rather well and I am starting to cut back the feed, from not much to hardly any!! they do get plenty of hay just not much in the bucket.

 

[MrsMurs]

Hi there, I believe the Hi Fi Lite chop was added purely to encourage her to take her time eating the rest of her bucket feed, and the switch to FF was because she was beginning to put on condition. I didn't know garlic was an irritant to the gut!! That definitely might be worth omitting if it's working against everything else, as well as reducing the linseed slightly. Food for thought there, thank you very much