WWYD - Loan/Sell/Persevere/Give my head a wobble?

If you have a look at the research papers the dose is nowhere near 25 tablets! I cant remember the figure now, but 3 to 5 sounds about right.
I’m not 100% sure as the paper I read said that 2mg/kg was sufficient to reduce stomach acid in a horse with hay only diet, but that a horse with a high grain, low fibre diet 0.5 to 2mg/kg was sufficient. So with my horses getting a mostly hay diet, that 25 tablets would be about right for 2mg/kg. So I guess that’s the basis my vets have worked on. But as they said, there aren’t a lot of studies to go on, and the ones that exist used a special paste version.
I’m too lazy to look for the original paper but the KER article is here: https://ker.com/equinews/exploring-esomeprazole-equine-gastric-ulcers/
 
I’m not 100% sure as the paper I read said that 2mg/kg was sufficient to reduce stomach acid in a horse with hay only diet, but that a horse with a high grain, low fibre diet 0.5 to 2mg/kg was sufficient. So with my horses getting a mostly hay diet, that 25 tablets would be about right for 2mg/kg. So I guess that’s the basis my vets have worked on. But as they said, there aren’t a lot of studies to go on, and the ones that exist used a special paste version.
I’m too lazy to look for the original paper but the KER article is here: https://ker.com/equinews/exploring-esomeprazole-equine-gastric-ulcers/

At that dose I'd be giving Dex 70 20mg tablets a day 🤣 I read the same paper as you, and the one that said 3-5 tablets - I think there's research to support both at this point in time
 
At that dose I'd be giving Dex 70 20mg tablets a day 🤣 I read the same paper as you, and the one that said 3-5 tablets - I think there's research to support both at this point in time

It generally depends what you are using it for. Raging ulcers high dose. But then you can manage mild suppression long term on a low dose once the acute ulcers are under control. For example if you have a prone race/sport horse you might give 1/8 tube GG before galloping or competing. My vet says 8-10 nexium for a 550-600kg horse as an alternative to GG
 
Horse on the yard was given the tablets as a cheaper alternative to injections or paste, if my memory serves me right vet had him on 45 tabs in each feed twice a day.
 
Thought I would come back for a quick update:

In the last 2.5 weeks I haven't ridden, coincidentally life outside of the yard got really hectic so it was good timing really! I have:
- had the dentist
- had the physio
- had the saddle fitter
- had a vet do a non-ridden work up
- farrier with testers on him, worth a punt as he was here
- changed his feed entirely to just Dengie Meadow Lite, much to his dismay. No alfalfa and at 5mj/kg enery, not much of anything. (+ joint supp, + boswellia)
- removed Valerian

No-one could find a thing wrong with him. Saddler put in a tiny bit of extra flocking, but said she was clutching at straws really, physio said if she was being picky some lumbar spine reaction but only if she's really trying for it and nothing she'd usually even write down.

So tonight I thought before I spend any more money, as the next options are either a danilon trial or the ulcer treatment suggested above, I should really sit on him and make sure he's still unhappy and he was great! I only did 5 mins on each rein in walk and trot, for what you'd expect a 5.5yo in the cold whos done nothing in 3 weeks to be, he was willing and no back up and happy. No acrobatics, all four feet on the ground at all times, no buggering off and no broncing.

Not counting my chickens, but fingers crossed.
 
I think young horses can go through stages of testing boundaries - the hooligan was a brat in the field when he was being a brat under saddle, but my big mare takes no nonsense!

Fingers crossed Dex has restored his halo permanently
 
I think young horses can go through stages of testing boundaries - the hooligan was a brat in the field when he was being a brat under saddle, but my big mare takes no nonsense!

Fingers crossed Dex has restored his halo permanently

I have no doubts there will be many more - my problem is a) I’m so neurotic that it’s pain and b) as everyone may have noticed, I am incredibly adept at thinking myself into a black hole… about anything, not just Dex 😂

Thanks to all HHO contributors that put up with my hysteria over very little from time to time!
 
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