Ulcers? How to treat?

dressagelove

dressagelove

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Also in Veternairy.

My usually laid back TB is becoming a completely different character. He is unpredictable, fights something chronic with the other horses, he spooks (never been spooky in his life) and throws a wobbly for no reason - complete unlike him.

He is an ex racer, and they are more prone to developing ulcers I believe?

I have not had him scoped, but have done some accupressure and he is fairly grumpy to be touched in the digestive tract, and to be tacked up, mounted etc.

I have been reading up on ulcers, and know about the expensive drug treatments available, but do these definitely work? How long would I have to feed them? How do you get hold of them? It may sound irresponsible but I tend to avoid vets like the plague, my vets are hopeless, charge me through to nose and only get used in emergencies, I would like to avoid involving them where possible.

I read that aloe vera juice and charcoal also help? Is this true? He is kept turned out full and is only fed sugar free fast fibre, and supplements.
 
I believe that only Gastro Guard clears the ulcers up. The rest ie charcoal are only preventative and I think unproven. Unfortunately GG is very expensive and only through the vet - it will be an insurance job!

The good news is that its very effective, I saw a change within two days (with brushing him off), although he was on a four week course. and I've just put him on another two week course as he was still niggly with me putting the saddle on and amazingly this seems to have improved as well.

Some vets have had free scoping days - I believe sponsored by the makers of GG, which cuts the cost down. Whatever it is very expensive but at least the results are positive.
 
Have a read through PS's posts, or PM her as I seem to remember her thinking CS may have ulcers at one stage and putting him on (I think) a cheaper alternative to GG that she bought herself??

Hope he perks up soon!
 
You can buy drugs with the same active ingredient as GG (omeprazole) and import it - illegally - into the UK, as I believe certain HHOers have done. GG is expensive as the company holds the patent.

In my opinion it is completely irresponsible to self diagnose and treat something like ulcers, which can cause a serious amount of pain. Sorry if that's not what you want to hear :( and sorry that your horse is under the weather.
 
:( Tough situation. As mentioned earlier, there are a whole host of preventative options, of differing reliability. Unfortunately if a horse has ulcers, they are unlikely to heal spontaneously; they really need to be treated.

Of course it is never simple. Scoping won't diagnose all ulcers (i.e. hindgut ulcers) and Omeprazole won't work on all ulcers either. So even treating 'blind' you will never know 100%. It sucks, and until GG lose sole rights to the patent it is an unfair situation IMO.

I've had ulcers, and I wouldn't wish the pain on anyone.

ETA if you go to the Chronicle of the Horse forums (US based) and search for 'Pop Rocks' you will get lots of information (that is the generic form of Omeprazole, although of course it the importing, not the buying that is illegal here)
 
dressagelove said:
Maybe cos it's cheaper ey? ;)

Thank you, I will have a look into that and see what my vet thinks
Click to expand...

Ranitidine (like in human medicine) was the treatment of choice before Omeprazole became available for horses.

Trouble with Ranitidine is that you have to administer it four times a day to be effective. GG only needs to be administered once a day - hence it's more convenient for people to use and therefore, more likely to be successful.

Have you looked at Egusin? The SLH for two weeks and then the 250 for two weeks?
 
If I were you I would do a trial using Rantacidine for a few days. You can buy these anywhere and use 7 or so tablets at least twice daily and an hour before riding and ensure your horse has a chaff feed immediately before riding. You could try the same using limestone flour - a cup twice a day for a few days. If there is an improvement then the indication is a possibility of ulcers and I would get the horse scoped. Scoping is the inexpensive part, but just beware as someone pointed out that ulcers are a serious ailment. I have had a friend whose horse showed mild symptoms but had bleeding ulcers and had to be pts. Other horses are just ultra sensitive showing pain reaction to mild ulcers.
I would spend the £180-£200 for scoping then worry about getting a cheaper source for GG.

This great blog may help you:

http://www.lunatunesfreestyles.com/horse_ulcers.htm
 
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My vets charged £450 for the scoping:mad::mad: Luckily the first one was free but they certainly made up for it with the charges thereafter.
 
scopes are £300ish with our (Referal) vets...


Mine had severe ulcers - apparantly shes known to most vets at the referal place they were that bad!!.....


She went on a course of 7 weeks gastro gard and it cleared them up (rest/stabled no riding)!

I then started to ride again on gg...all fine....then took her off it and she flaired up again

Shes now out 24.7 and not ridden, she really cant deal with it...she stresses. So shes having this year off and then back in ridden work (possibly!) in spring....if shes retired properly then so be it...i bought a youngster for her ridden replacement as i dont want to put any pressure on her to come back into work

i know she will cope with a hack once/twice a week, but full work is (for her) asking too much right now

I have also used Omeprazole - but i didnt give it enough of a shot to comment if it works...technically it should as its the same as GG (well it IS gastro gard) but due to patents etc blahblahblah.....

Before and after riding - always make sure food is available (hay) cut out all sugar (carrots/polos etc) turnout 24.7 is ideal....mine will never be stabled again as long as i can help it! - simple systems feed (laminitic food isnt good enough....no sugar at all...)

my mares come right down now - and likes being out....admtidly she would love to go back in a stable when it rains but i did have her in one for 20 minutes a few weeks ago and she was literally climbing the walls trying to get out....biting and lashing out...put her back in the field - perfect mare again...!

any questions - pm me... my horse is special...not in a good way either somtimes ;)
 
Thanks for the replies.

I have also been dredging through HHO archives and reading up, this situation with the GG patent really is a nightmare/ridiculous making people risk importing illegal drugs.

I have been feeding him before riding for the last few days and he has been noticeably calmer, this again could indicate he has ulcers yes?

I read in an archived post that cptrayes said it is illegal to diagnose and treat ulcers yourself, is this true? And is that true for even seeing as Y&C recommended and testing with Ranitidine first? If Rantidine works in the same way, why can that not be used in the same way to treat ulcers?

I will be making an appointment with my vets anyway, there doesn't seem much point in cutting corners with this. I am trying a new vets anyway!

*tears hair out with horses that never fix!*
 
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