Ulcers or????? - advice please

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Sarah1

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Hi

I was wondering if anyone could tell me about ulcers, well, the symptoms really? I'm clutching at straws with this way of thinking but here's the situation...

We have a 5 yr old ex-racer who we have had for approx 9 months - he's a real sweetie but so, so slow! Out hacking with his pals he needs constant chivvying otherwise he's dawdling along miles behind. Sharp kicks make no difference and you may as well not bother with a schooling whip! We'd rather not resort to spurs at this stage if at all possible. He has a happy mouth type snaffle and no other gadgets.

We're slowly starting to get some weight on him (very hard work as he's a crib-biter) - he's up to date with his worming and has had his teeth done.

He's only been doing gentle hacking for a couple of months (prior to that he was long reined mostly but as it was winter this was fairly intermittant, weather dependant etc.) The physio is due out to him in a couple of weeks as is the saddle fitter. He hacks out with ears pricked the whole way round and just seems happy to stop & smell the roses as it were.

It's lovely that he's so chilled out and he's a fairly happy little chap but I just can't believe that there's not an underlying reason for him being so so steady? To be perfectly honest I'm hoping there's a cause for his lack of ooomph because as he is he's not right for us & we'll end up selling him on which would be a huge shame as he's such a darling.

The plan is, physio, saddle fitter then regular lessons to try to get him to build some muscle so he's more able to use himself and we're hoping this might just bring something out in him that might light him up a bit.

He's currently fed, Alfa A oil, Baileys cooked cereal meal, sugar beet, conditioning mix and as much grass/hay as he can eat so he ought to be bouncing off the walls! Obviously if any of his symptoms point to ulcers and/or the vet confims this then all cereal feeds will have to be dramatically reduced/cut out altogether.

The things I've read about ulcers point more towards bad behaviour than good so ulcers may not be the cause at all & maybe he's just a super steady Eddie!

He shows no signs of pain at all.

I don't really know what I'm asking - ulcers are probably nothing to do with this but if anyone can shed any light I'd be eternally grateful tho I rather think a visit from the vet is in order...

Thanks
 
Ulcers can present in different ways and not all horses will have all symptoms.
Dull coat, weight loss, not interested in food, poor performance, girthy are some.

Many TB's do have ulcers, they can only be diagnosed by scoping. Prevention is by management, ad lib forage is essential to provide a dorsal fibre mat.
 
Believe it or not, but lots of ex racers are very, steady eddies! I think you're doing all the right things, but if he is cribbing it is one of the signs of ulcers. Have a word with your vet and see what he thinks.
 
This is something I've been wondering about myself as I have a very similar issue with my mare.

There are no obvious signs of ulcers (weight loss, dull coat etc) but she is so unbelievably behind the leg I can't help but think there's something physical going on. She's always been lazy but seems to be getting worse. She is a little girthy, but always has been.

I have spoken to the vet about it who was fairly non-committal. Basically said either scope her or put her on a course of Gastrogard and see whether there's any change. He didn't think that there was any point putting her on a supplement because this would only help if the ulcers had already been treated (if there were ulcers).

I am umming and ahhing about what to do, so interested to hear what people think.

He sounds like a lovely boy (but I feel your frustration!).
 
crib biting is a common symptom of ulcers, so I would be having him scoped if I were you :)

My boy was diagnosed with quite bad ulcers and he didn't really have any symptoms. He was a bit on the skinny side and was a bit girthy, but I just felt that something wasn't right. Everyone thought I was a bit crazy to be insisting it was ulcers as he didn't have any 'proper' symptoms but the vet said she's scope him (probably to shut me up!) and lo and behold, quite a serious case of ulcers.

A course of gastroguard later and he's like a new horse - provided he has ad lib hay he's quite happy :)

It's believed that over 90% of racehorses have ulcers because of their diet and training regime, so statistcally he probably has them, and they'll only go with treatment.

Trust your instinct on this one - good luck! :)
 
Thank you all - we're going to have the vet look at him, would rather pay for a visit etc & find out nothing wrong than not have the vet & there be something happening that needs treatment
 
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