Ulcers??

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Mrs Trotter

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Any thoughts? My mare has been a windsucker for some time - she started this in the field when grazing got sparse. This did not affect, her performance and despite trying all sorts of deterrants , I couldn't get her out of the habit. However, due to divorce , I had to move her to a yard where conditions were not ideal and she developed COPD , we now have this under control. She did have a course of steroids but control of environment was the answer.
However, she is lucklustre to ride, losing weight ( usually an amazing good doer) and windsucking constantly, she gets a big soaked hay, speedi beet, dengie hi fi, a general supplement , blob of oil , spillers hi fibre cubes.
Does this sound like ulcers? Vet has suggested getting her scoped. Has anyone tried rantadine ( zantac)? How successful has ulcer treatment with gastrogard been? Insurance should pay ( hooves crossed), any suggestions re diet? Blood test is clear by the way.
 
Yes I used Zantac for several days as my vet was out of town and it was the only thing I could buy, within a few days he was looking better so I then put him on GG for a full months course followed by 2 weeks of prevention dose. I also gave him Maalox before dinner to help him eat.
 
Hi

Not sure about the ulcers but perhaps its the weather or her diet playing a part.

My TB is an intermittent windsucker and I found out he definitely windsucks if he is on Dengie HiFi.
You could try and take that out and see if things improve?
 
Yes the Rantacidine will prove a point, if she has ulcers, but not the severity. Try giving her 5 twice a day. I fed my WB 3 fibre feeds a day and adlib hay and he showed an improvement withing 2 days on the Rantacidine.

However I would recommend that you go on to have the scoping done, especially if you are claiming on insurance anyway as this is the only way to find out the location and severity of the ulcers. The scoping is the cheap part at around £160.
Just for your information my vet worked with horses with ulcers alot in the states and when my horse had the GG treatment she also prescibed him sucralfate at the same time - it improves the healing apparently. I think it is like Rantacidine.

People rave about Coligone and Ulcer Calm from Feedmark as good supplements. Feedmark do a supplement that is recommended for cribbers - I will look.
Good luck :)
 
That's it 'Settlex' by Feedmark (watch for their frequent money off offers) is said to be great for cribbers etc. My friend uses it for her stressy TB who cribs and gets colic. :)
 
As you're insured get her scoped &, if that shows ulcers, on GastroGuard - it's ridiculously exprnsive but it's the best treatment available. At the same time look at management & diet to see if any improvement can be made & maybe consider some sort of preventitive supplement - corn oil, Equine America's Ulser Gard, Succeed, Coligone are all things I've heard good reports about & I can certainly vouch for the Ulser Gard.
 
very sim symtoms to my mare would def get her scoped no a few friends whos horses have been diagnosed and all have very diffrent symtoms but a least one of the normal ie lossing weight not wanting to work as well as normal. def get her scoped esp as she is insured.
 
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