Ulcers - any experiences?! Advice?

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ecrozier

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Hi all
Just looking for some experiences with ulcer prone horses, particularly has anyone had a horse that a one month full dose course of gastroguard with another month gradually reducing the dose hasn't sorted out? And also does anyone have any experienced with bacterial causes?

My horse was scoped positive with splash ulcers in the early summer, a short course of GGuard sorted him out, back to normal all through summer and autumn, minor niggles started November/December, full blown return to being unrideable by Christmas, did a 1 week GG course as before, no improvement, tried the equinescience gastroplus, no improvement at all :( so now going back on the GGuard for a month.

But just a bit worried where we go next if it doesn't work!!! Will obviously re scope at that point, but vet has said ATM that as it is identical to previous presentation that we will try the GGuard now, and scope if it doesn't work. Scared I have the one horse it won't sort out tho!

And also concerned as to why they have flared up, he has very ulcer friendly feed (hifi molasses free and pure easy), constant access to hay (although he sometimes stands around not eating it!) and is stabled as little as possible - ATM though they are in 4pm-8am, but that's yard rules, in summer they are out 4pm - 10am, and even now he has a huge haynet, and treat ball with fibre. Will be adding in some Alfa a and corn oil, and an Alfa based feed just before riding. Not sure what more I can do!! Can't work out why he had this flare up though, of anything he's been competing far less since November than over summer, so feel it's not work/stress related. Did swap him off ers pellets when they came in for winter and they do contain Alfa which seems to be reported as good for ulcers... But struggle to believe that's enough for this level of flare up! Also did start jumping him again, max once a week.... Will stick to flatwork for now if I can get him sorted out!

Any thoughts/experiences gratefully appreciated!!

Incidentally he's sound and happy to move forward on the lunge, has minor spavin but that doesn't appear to bother him, no pain reaction on his back and is the same in both saddles/bare back. Has had his back done by both a Physio and mctimoney Chiro and both happy with that. It's a very specific reaction to my leg, particularly my left leg but both get a reaction - he turns round and bites at my leg, then if I don't stop using it (even just lying on his side) he will kick out or leap forward and buck.... Totally happy to long rein and lunge though.... But very girthy and also not 100% happy being rugged up ATM. Generally fairly calm and happy and looking well outwardly.

Gaaahhhh horses - so frustrating!
 
Mine had gastro guard and the cheaper bersion (can't remember the name) for several months and it made no difference whatsoever. Eventually, he had 6 months off in the field (due to me being injured) and, touch wood, that seems to have done the trick. They are very difficult, good luck.
 
Mine had pyloric ulcers, so in the glandular part of tummy. GG did clear them but he was on it for 3 months, 2 at full dose, 1 month at half dose. Completely clear in rescope.

I don't think the causes of glandular ulcers are truly understood. Mine had no ulcer risk factors...forage only diet, lots of turn out. He is a native good doer type in relatively light work. I don't think it's as clear cut as with the splash ulcer type of ulcers.
 
Interesting thanks - baggyb did your horse's ulcers show up on scope before and after treatment? My next option would probably be to turn him away :(
Kinnygirl glad to hear it's not just mine that seems so inexplicable!
 
Hi, yes, mine showed up on scoping and were still there when we scoped him again about 3 months into treatment. Not had him scoped after the break but he had really changed character and is back to his usual self now so I am assuming either resolved or resolved to a level where he can cope again
 
Interesting thanks. Think if we don't have a happier horse after an 8 week (4 weeks full dose, 2 weeks half and two weeks quarter is plan) course then we will definitely re scope.
 
Sorry to hijack.

Would it do any harm to treat a horse for ulcers without confirming via scope that they have them? Horse is showing the signs and is an ex racer.
 
Mine has had 3 months GG and antibiotics and his grade 4 pyloric ulcers have got worse (seen on scope) ! So I am pretty sure I have the one horse who will not respond to treatment! If you figure it out please let me know how
 
milesjess said:
Sorry to hijack.

Would it do any harm to treat a horse for ulcers without confirming via scope that they have them? Horse is showing the signs and is an ex racer.
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Not entirely sure whether it would do any harm, but without scoping you wouldnt have any way of knowing whether it has worked or not - so pretty pointless really. Even if his behaviour/symptoms improves, you wouldnt have any conclusive proof if it was the GG or something else that has worked.

When it comes to horses that have/may have ulcers, never cut corners. Yes scoping is expensive, and you often have to keep having them re-scoped in order to check on progress, but it is the only conclusive way of getting a diagnosis and seeing progress with your horse.
 
OP - sorry didnt want to read and run, I dont have any encouragement I'm afraid as one of the horses I ride who has had pretty much every major health and behavioural issue under the sun has actually got worse since the ulcers 'cleared up'. Sods law!

He was almost unrideable, spooky and sharp, unpredictable, wild.....scoped him, grade 2 (borderline grade 3), first course of GG no improvement, second course GG some improvement, 3rd course GG much better, reduced GG then final scope - vet said 99% gone and as good as they will ever be (he was mistreated by previous owner and starved so he'll never be perfect in that area).

Behaviour did definitely improve whilst on GG, but never to the point where he is truly calm and sensible - still unpredictable and chucked me off again. So decided to turn away for a few months (planning on around 6 months when we made the decision) in the hope that being out 24/7 would chill him out a bit. In fact it has done the opposite, he has turned feral, rears whenever you try and go near him, bucks if you do get a headcollar on him and try and lead him.

Not sure where we go next.....sorry it is not a positive story, I think a lot with mine is mental/behavioural, as he had a terrible 2 years with previous owner, so fingers crossed with yours the GG will do the job.

Good luck!
 
Lol - thanks kc100 ;)
No in all seriousness I would rather hear all experiences. Mine was not difficult to ride prior to first ulcer episode and that time one week of GG returned him fully to normal, and has no other major issues that should cause him to be like this, he was bone scanned for another problem a while ago, (lame but impossible to nerve block!) but nothing major came up and he's sound etc. so I'm hopeful it is the ulcers to blame :)
 
Could it be hind gut ulcers?

I think there is someone on here who's horse had bacterial ulcers. Not entirely sure who, but I'm sure a search will show it up.
Are you definately sure he's got ulcers again? Or could it be something else?

I had a horse with ulcers, and I used a supplement called Aquacid (think it's been rebranded as Equine74, or similar), that made a massive difference with mine.

If you want to think "outside" the box, other things to look into are animal communicators, bioenergetic hair testing, thermal imaging, iridology
 
My horse has had ulcers. I did a lot of research and decided not to use gastro guard - it helps elevate the symptoms but doesn't fix the problem and also, it doesn't deal with hind gut ulcers and these can't be detected by scoping. A lot of users of GG are in your position OP where it seems to work, withdraw and then symptoms come back. Google Dr Kerry Ridgway - he has a system for detecting ulcers without scoping.

So, I ended up using Gastro Plus from a company called equine science. Worked a treat. I had only recently purchased him so he has an ulcer free lifestyle now - 24/7 turnout, field mate, access to forage all the time, and l feed him a bit before working. Their tummies use 1.5 litres of acid an hour and if there is nothing in there to work on the acid works on the stomach lining instead. PM if you need more info.
 
Will have a google of that thanks Wench. He definitely did have ulcers when we scoped in June, he's a terrible patient so I'm reluctant to re scope until I have to... Quite possible hind gut also a factor but as I understand it you can't treat that anyway so have to sort out acid balance and then hope for the best? I'm fairly confident it's ulcers partly because the presentation is identical to before, but he's been fine since the GG last time until relatively recently.... Also if it was back/SI/hind leg related, I'm not sure he would be as happy to move forward on lunge (he's even relatively happy to go on lunge with saddle/rider, as long as my leg goes nowhere near his sides!


Yes sadly the gastroplus a complete waste of money so far for us, he's exactly the same after 3 weeks on it.... Got another bag here if anyone wants to buy it!!
 
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Another who didn't want to read and run - I've been having similar problems with my boy. I'm not riding due to pregnancy and the livery yard I'm at has restricted turnout down to 7 hours max a day and in at night due to a trashed field.

My friend said he was showing massive signs of ulcers flaring up the other day so I immediately upped his hay and double netted. Although he's not interested in eating all of his hay either (bloody horses) he was also the same as yours. Good to lunge but not when ridden and with the leg!

I've got him on protexin acid ease and have recently put him onto Topspec ulcerkind and Brewers yeast and his girthiness has gone within the week!
 
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He's been on protexin for a few months now (on a maintenance dose) and I found it really helped but the flare up is undoubtedly down to the unfortunate restriction on turnout, since hearing of his discomfort I've upped it back to the initial recommended 50g twice a day and introduced the Ulcerkind and Brewers yeast so I couldn't say which has helped or if it's the combination but he is significantly happier to have his belly and sides touched already. I highly rate the acid ease though! It helped immensely when he was first scoped at the end of last year.

I get the Ulcerkind at £10.40 a bag from my tack shop so couldn't sniff at giving it a bash, he's only been on 1/4 scoop in each feed so far as he can be a fussy eater!

You wouldn't believe the increase in ulcer cases there are at the minute according to friends/vets etc all down to crappy weather and field conditions.
 
Hmm yes I think the lack of grazing and turnout is definitely at the root of my boy's problems... Possibly coupled with a slight feed alteration I made before Christmas (nothing drastic, swapped out pure east for fast fibre but that unwittingly removed a probiotic element) and also I started jumping him again in November, again possibly increasing problems with acid splash. Definitely sounds like the ulcer kind is worth a bash though, and protexin was my first plan once we are reducing the GGard dose.
Thanks!
 
My horse was scoped before I got him and revealed very minor ulcers (not enough to give him much of an excuse) and he was on a diet of Saracen Re-Leve, Alfa A molasses free and Rite Trac supplement. I would keep him on Rite Trac as its apparently one of the only supplements that's actually proven to work (according to Saracen feed rep who import the stuff...). But it's seriously expensive so we're seeing how he goes without it for a while.
 
Worldiscomplete said:
My horse has had ulcers. I did a lot of research and decided not to use gastro guard - it helps elevate the symptoms but doesn't fix the problem and also, it doesn't deal with hind gut ulcers and these can't be detected by scoping. A lot of users of GG are in your position OP where it seems to work, withdraw and then symptoms come back. Google Dr Kerry Ridgway - he has a system for detecting ulcers without scoping.

So, I ended up using Gastro Plus from a company called equine science. Worked a treat. I had only recently purchased him so he has an ulcer free lifestyle now - 24/7 turnout, field mate, access to forage all the time, and l feed him a bit before working. Their tummies use 1.5 litres of acid an hour and if there is nothing in there to work on the acid works on the stomach lining instead. PM if you need more info.
Click to expand...

Second this re hind gut ulcers and Dr Kerry Ridgeway.
 
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