Ulcer Treatment Issues

[RHGR]

My Welsh D is currently undergoing treatment for ulcers. The only sign of ulcers that we had was an unwillingness to work in the school. Up until his scoping we were still happily hacking out up to 9 miles a hack, walk trot and canter, no issues whatsoever there. He was scoped on the 9th and got his first omeprazole injection and had been on sucralfate powder twice daily too. He has seemed his normal self. I have tried to take him for a hack today and it was awful. Was literally a 1.4mile hack, just along a track, down between two crop fields and then back up the road to the yard. A hack he's done many times before when coming into work or when I'm hard pushed for time but still want to get him doing something so it's not an unknown or spooky route. Today he set off totally fine, then when on the track between the crop fields he started backing off. Stopping, and when asked to go forward was sort of rushing forward before stopping again. Then when we got to the road he was jogging sideways, head right up in the air with his nose up so I had no control. Jumping sideways and just really not himself at all. Feeling horribly bunched up and tense. Once back at the yard and I'm the stable block he was back to his normal chilled out self.
Has anyone experienced horses getting worse on treatment before they get better? Am I missing something completely different? Should I not be riding him? I haven't been told by the vets to not ride during treatment and he wasn't showing any signs when hacking before. I'm panicking and don't know what to do or what to look at or how to deal with the situation. I'm terrified he's like my last girl and he's getting worse because he's allergic to something he's being treated with or I've missed what's actually caused the ulcers and he's in pain elsewhere, but physio and vets haven't seen anything else that makes them think other areas need looked at

 

[Exasperated]

My Welsh D is currently undergoing treatment for ulcers. The only sign of ulcers that we had was an unwillingness to work in the school. Up until his scoping we were still happily hacking out up to 9 miles a hack, walk trot and canter, no issues whatsoever there. He was scoped on the 9th and got his first omeprazole injection and had been on sucralfate powder twice daily too. He has seemed his normal self. I have tried to take him for a hack today and it was awful. Was literally a 1.4mile hack, just along a track, down between two crop fields and then back up the road to the yard. A hack he's done many times before when coming into work or when I'm hard pushed for time but still want to get him doing something so it's not an unknown or spooky route. Today he set off totally fine, then when on the track between the crop fields he started backing off. Stopping, and when asked to go forward was sort of rushing forward before stopping again. Then when we got to the road he was jogging sideways, head right up in the air with his nose up so I had no control. Jumping sideways and just really not himself at all. Feeling horribly bunched up and tense. Once back at the yard and I'm the stable block he was back to his normal chilled out self.
Has anyone experienced horses getting worse on treatment before they get better? Am I missing something completely different? Should I not be riding him? I haven't been told by the vets to not ride during treatment and he wasn't showing any signs when hacking before. I'm panicking and don't know what to do or what to look at or how to deal with the situation. I'm terrified he's like my last girl and he's getting worse because he's allergic to something he's being treated with or I've missed what's actually caused the ulcers and he's in pain elsewhere, but physio and vets haven't seen anything else that makes them think other areas need looked at

Well, first thing to do is contact your vet, explain what’s happened - and make sure you find out and follow the exact management recommended.
The vet can take it from there, can consider your other concerns if appropriate. Good luck!

 

[RHGR]

Well, first thing to do is contact your vet, explain what’s happened - and make sure you find out and follow the exact management recommended.
The vet can take it from there, can consider your other concerns if appropriate. Good luck!

Thank you! Was waiting for call back from vet when this was posted, have just got off the phone with her and she's saying not to worry too much, many horses just get a bit of muscular discomfort when on the injections so to try him with just in hand walking and see how he goes! I'm probably panicking over nothing due to past experiences she said a few days after his 3rd injection if he's doing fine with inhand we could try a little ridden work again. The only guidance I got from the diagnosing vet was to reduce workload at the start so thought short walking hacks would be fine. He's maybe just more sensitive than others (wouldn't be surprising, he's a ginger Welsh )

 

[bubsqueaks]

I have been told by my Vet & Physio there is a lot of remembered pain with Ulcers plus they can be a result of underlying issues - ours was caused by trigger stacking in sending away to be backed - Grade 4 plus which were cleared in 4 weeks of injections. However, 2 months down the line we are still dealing with the remembered pain!

 

[Traks]

My boy had gastroguard not the injections for his ulcers so not really sure if it’s the same…but they advised a couple of weeks off until the medication started to have an effect, then slowly return to work. I hope he starts to feel better soon x

 

[AE94]

I had someone tell me this week that the omeprazole injections can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for horses for quite a few days