Ulcers - how do they effect a horses behaviour??

[Slinkyunicorn]

I am nearly 100% sure that my boy has ulcers - even without being scoped. For the first 10 years of his life he was kept in a dressage yard - judging by his habits etc I would guess at very little hacking, stabled a lot, hard feed, he cribs and windsucks and is really bothered by his girth being done up - all the classic signs and symptoms. Now he is here he is out 24/7 for most of the year and only stabled in the winter months (Dec - Feb this year) when necesssary. He is on all year turnout on good grazing, has ad lib hay and his feed has been changed to a high fibre diet - no mixes or hard feed. His signs and symtoms are much improved and towards the end of his stabling in Feb he was no longer wearing his collar at night as his cribbing/windsucking had pretty much gone - should say it wasn't the worst I have seen to start with. Will be going to vets for scoping but want to do what I can in the meantime.

So what I really wanted to know - is is there anything else I can do to help manage his ulcers (has just started a course of Global Herbs Acid X) and how does it effect their behaviour if the ulcers/gastric syndrome is playing up?

Thankies

ETA - he also has aloe juice as part of his diet.

Also editted 'cos my spelling was pants!!

 

[dwi]

Have you tried Coligone?

 

[MrsMozart]

Damn, there was an article in a recent H&H - I posted it for someone who was asking about possible issues.

Can't remember much of it though

. I have no brain

Um. Reduce stress as much as possible. If he has a routine that he likes, stick to it.

 

[f_s_]

As ulcers are caused by excess acid in the gut, what about a balancer??

Would that help along with a routine?

Our mare was a crib biter, and after changing her diet to no hard feed, feeding brewers yeast and vitamins, she seems much better, along with lots of turn out. I'm sure she had or does have an ulcer as she was so grumpy when doing up her girth, but is much better now.

What about peppermint tea mixed in with feed??? Just a suggestion, as peppermint is meant to be good for ulcers

 

[teddyt]

Firstly i would say throw the collar in the bin. IMO they are cruel as they stop the horse carrying out a behaviour that helps them relieve the stress and discomfort.

If the ulcers flair up you may see depression, irritability, moody behaviour, etc, basically signs the horse is in pain. And the signs you mentioned, like disliking girthing.

Alfalfa is good for ulcers as the calcium helps buffer the acid. There are herbs to help too: http://www.rockenhayne.com/page6.html

Generally i think you are doing a good job though (except the collar!)

 

[martlin]

QR
It's all in management and diet. I have to restrict grass as it doesn't do mine any favours, he's on mainly fibre diet, but does get cubes as needs tons of energy - I feed a mixture or home made chaff, Spillers Response slow release cubes and High fibre cubes, he also gets NAF Thrive (the most effective I found) and ad lib hay/haylage mix. I make sure that haylage is on a dry side, but can't keep on hay only as the bu@@er won't eat it.
He is generally a bit grumpy, but haven't seen him windsuck for a while now. The important thing is not to stop them windsucking as that does relieve the pressure - so no collar.
When his tummy plays up a bit he can be right miserable git and becomes seriously reluctant to move under saddle.
I always give him haynet or a scoop of chaff before riding to make sure there is no acid splashing during exercise.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Thanks everyone!

teddyt - the collar has gone - I was told to use it when I got him (it was one of the leather miracle collars or something not the metal nutcracker ones) but I didn't really like it and he didn't either - not helped by my mare pulling on it if she got the chance!!

The cribbing/windsucking is much improved - but think he has just has a flare up as has been grumpy when normally he is a gentle soul.

 

[teddyt]

[ QUOTE ]


teddyt - the collar has gone (

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad to hear it. Invention of the devil

 

[teresagarsden]

One of mine was the same when i bought him he cribbed and i spoke to vet who said to try giving him 2 rennie after each feed ( had 2 feeds a day) he had these with a mint and now he has only been seen to crib once in 3 months!
I am not saying that this is the only reason for the reduction as he is now less stressed, has a regular routine, goes out every day in the field and has regular work but he is a much happier horse.
Oh and he only gets 1 per feed now i cut back after the first 3 weeks as there was a visible difference.
Hope this helps.
Teresa