Ulcer question

[littleshetland]

I'm posting on behalf of a friend who's not a member on here, but keeps her horse with me. Some months ago her horse started to exhibit classic signs of ulcers. She had him scoped 3 weeks ago, and sure enough he showed up glandular ulcers (also x rayed for KS...all clear). Because he's difficult with oral pastes, the vet has been injecting him once a week with the appropriate drug. The vet informed her that after his first shot, wait a week, then start easy, light work again. She waited 3 weeks before trying him with work...all well, he was good on the lunge, then she hopped on and he was obviously exhibiting learned behaviour / memory of discomfort, but she pressed on, and before our eyes, he looked a lot happier and was actually working quite well...lovely too see! She tried again this morning, and he seems to be back to his old, uncomfortable way of going. She's obviously going to discuss with her vet, but was hoping for some input from those who've had experience of horses with ulcers (I haven't..thankfully). So, our question is, what is the recovery experience like? is it gradual (good days/bad days) or a much more instant and dramatic improvement? As I said, she's obviously going to have a chat with her vet, but would love your input too. Thanks in advance.

 

[milliepops]

Mine is on week 11 (so far!!) of treatment for glandular ulcers and she has definitely had good and bad days.

I didn't really work her at all for the first 6 weeks as she was so unhappy, i lightly lunged her to provide exercise on days they couldn't go in the field and tried riding fortnightly just to see how she was feeling. it's really only been in the last few weeks that she has been up for ridden work, some (most) days she feels ace, other days she just wants to do quiet stuff so I just walk her.

I had a second scope after 6 weeks which showed the squamous one gone but the glandular one needed further treatment. We have another scope next week and I am expecting it to show more healing because of the turnaround in my horse's behaviour.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Something to think off, if he's shown improvement and then gone a bit backwards is his hind gut.
The omeprazole injections can negatively affect his hind gut. So he might feel better that the stomach ulcers are starting to heal but then start feeling uncomfortable with his hind gut.
That's what I had. I put her on succeed for her hund gut which worked really well.

 

[milliepops]

ah yeah. mine has sucralfate twice a day as well as the omeprazole in the morning.

 

[Ellibelli]

I think the paste omeprazole can give some improvement in behaviour quite quickly, but I found it took 6 injections of omeprazole to show an improvement and it wasn't a gradual improvement - it was bad one day then back to normal the next day, and at that point he scoped clear of ulcers.

 

[littleshetland]

I think the paste omeprazole can give some improvement in behaviour quite quickly, but I found it took 6 injections of omeprazole to show an improvement and it wasn't a gradual improvement - it was bad one day then back to normal the next day, and at that point he scoped clear of ulcers.

Thanks Ellibelli...so, the improvement was 'good days, bad days'...? Also, we've only done 3 injections so far, so maybe we're a bit premature in expecting things to be loads better just yet...?

 

[Ellibelli]

Thanks Ellibelli...so, the improvement was 'good days, bad days'...? Also, we've only done 3 injections so far, so maybe we're a bit premature in expecting things to be loads better just yet...?

With mine it was no improvement at all in his behaviour until after the 6th injection. Then it was good behaviour and stayed that way so hopefully your friends horse will show a permanent improvement in a couple of weeks?