Ulcers and the competition horse

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duckpond

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I have an horse which doesn't eat unless on gastroguard. Is there anyone out there who has a horse with the same problems. I am would like to find an alternative to gastroguard since it is so expensive especially when in continuous use..
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Have you tried GNF, its made by TRM. We use it for one we have prone to ulcers. Not sure if its chapers than the one you are using though.
 
have you tried feeding the horse a diet containing no cereals, just a balancer (such as Baileys Stud Bal), maybe an oil supplement for energy (e.g. Outshine), and Alfalfa.
my new t.b. mare has been on this, with sugar beet, and no cereal at all for 6 weeks now, and is completely different temperamentally. i didn't have her tested for ulcers, but i'd be amazed if she didn't have them before.
just an idea, anyway.
 
Thanks kerilli, unfortunatly he doesn't eat unless on gastroguard, he might pick at a bit of alpha a and hay/haylage. He has never been tested for ulcers but the gastroguard works. He eats very well when on it.
 
Ulcers were a rarity once, funny how when everyone started getting so high tech and finding fabulous alternatives to plain straight feed and grass that the incidence of ulcers has risen. if you cant turn horse out more, and feed plain hay soaked if ness, but steamed better (softer, easier to digest with less loss of nutrients) try the cheapest alternative i can think of which is plain old yogurt, live version. syringe 20mls down neck twice a day for a week and see if horse better or not. works on extremely expensive TB foals and yearlings.
 
I think you have a good point, we do give straight feeds and all the other horses are fine and dandy.
He lets you know when he has had enough of the field and doesn't spend his time eating grass when out. He eats the most when away at 3 days.
I never thought of yogurt before. Will give it a go.

Thanks for the advice.
 
Ive found a lot of foreign horses have ulcers as they dont feed Alfa A etc !!

My friend bought a horse who had really bad ulcers and had to be on Gastro Guard but she slowly weaned him off it - he has lots of Alfa A Oil and natural yoghurt works amazingly well !!!!
 
I've used Coligone.... and it is fantastic.... still have a liquid syringe on stand by and a bottle of liquid just in case..... My horse was only on it for two months and has been ok ever since! Highly recommended

i thought Gastroguard was Prescription?
 
Gastrogard is perscription only... so how are you feeding it without a disgnosis?

Anyway, feed a fibre diet little/no starch and high oil. Turnout 24/7 if posisble otherwise the horse must have hay in front of it at all times

Acidex (human OTC) at 50ml x2 a day orally will work the same as gastrogard longterm.
 
He is on it from prescription. Just been looking for alternatives since it is so expensive.
He wont eat with added oil, does get as much turn out as he will tolerate(gets stressed to come in after about an hour) always has a selection of hays to chose from.
 
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