Ulcers Diagnosis - Help!

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jenz87

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Hi everyone,
My mare 13 yr old conne rescue case has had two cases of very minor "colic" in the last 3 months. The first time vet decided was due to a virus, second time, the vet took her in to horsepital for tests and scoping. (was not a true colic, more a upset tummy).
Come back today grade 3 uclers, and thickening of the gut wall, possibly caused by her windsucking. In the past she was abused and left in a field with no grass and a muzzle! When we got her, she was skin and bone. Probably hense the ulcers!

Had her almost 3 years now and only problems have been in the last 3 months before, not a ill moment...

Im at a loss as to what to do, vet has recommended Gastroguard, but could be chronic so could come back and the gut wall thickening there is nothing he can do about that.

We are insured with KBIS and never claimed for anything, do you think they will cover it, and the Gastroguard. Vet thinks they may exclude gastroguard as its a windsucking related problem, even though never had ANY problems before windsucking related or not. Do i ring them and ask, or do i fill out the forms and wait and see before getting the Gastroguard?

Also as its a chronic problem, i assume KBIS are going to write us off basically, is there any way i can still be insured for something, i can see them cutting us off for colic and digestive system? If so, no point really insuring her!!

Finally (sorry i know its a bit long) any one have any suggestions on how to manage a horse with severe ulcers, at the moment she is on a out in the day in at night routine, she is coming in earlier at the moment due to the bad weather, and is standing by the gate waiting to come in. In summer out 24/7. She gets hay in the box and speedibeat, supplements and freeze dried readigrass for tea. Is there anyway i can help her with her routine or feeding? Any supplements i should get her?

Thanks and sorry for the millions of questions!
 
No direct experience of ulcers, though I've had a few horses scoped to check for them, and have read up a bit on options.

I guess if you would only have the gastrogard treatment if your insurance paid, then you definitely need to know if they'll cover it before starting the treatment.

If they won't cover it, or when the insurance cover runs out, it might be worth trying a different product "Gastrocalm" http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/supplements/condition-digestion/gastrocare?cPath=107_117.

Although I've not used this product (yet), I've heard a couple of very favourable reports of it, from a person whose opinion I really would trust. It's much cheaper than gastrogard, but the downside is it needs to be given several times a day, so all depends whether that fits in with your routine.

Hope that helps.

Sarah
 
You are in a hard place, because if she has ulcers the only certain thing to enable them to heal is GastroGard. Ulcers can be extremely serious if they are high grade ulcers.

If your insurance won't pay you could try treating the ulcers with Sucralfate (inexpensive) and available from your vet and Ranracidine tablets - that is available via ebay amazingly. If you feed 5 x the Rantacidine tablets every 4 hours then you may be able to heal the ulcers. The reason that GG is so successful is that it partially stops the acid pumps enabling the ulcers to heal and it is long working in terms of hours. The Rantacidine and Sucralfate which provide a soothing 'bandage' protecting the ulcers are NOT long lasting hence in order to treat in this way you would need to feed them every few hours and this is not possible for many people to do over a month's period minimum.

The management of a horse that is ulcer prone is access to good forage constantlt, so adlib hay, no molasses or sugar. Micronised linseed is good for gut health and condition, as is seaweed. People swear by products like Coligone or Feedmrks's Ulcer Calm.
You need to keep the horse's stress levels down, maybe use a good calmer if needs be.

My young WB is now out 24/7 with adlib forage and on a cereal and mollasses/sugar free diet. I feed him RelaxMe by First Horse as a clamer, when needed.

Here is an interesting and informative website I used:

http://www.lunatunesfreestyles.com/horse_ulcers.htm

I hope this is helpful :)
 
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