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Stomach Ulcers; Help me understand
Topic Started: Mar 6 2007, 11:42 AM (3,650 Views)
Black Tack
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Interesting and a big drag MAR :no: Lots of sore tummies there. Were they all tbds? I think ulcers are so much more common than people realize. Especially amongst show horses. I can easily think of about 10 horses in our barn that probably have them.

I understood that when the vet scopes them, they do not see what's happening in the hind gut. Also that there often are ulcers there. Was there any info from the vet regarding that?

Also did the vet give you feeding suggestions for ulcer prone horses?
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Lord Helpus
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My foundered 2 year old was diagnosed with ulcers 2 weeks ago. It was fascinating, seeing the inside of his stomach.

My vet is absolutely adamant that there is NO substitute for GastroGuard. In Ky, many/most of my racetrack friends used the generic product for 1/2 the price. But my current vet says NO!!

So, we have just finished 2 weeks of GG and he seems to be a lot better.

Since he is foundered (same reason and result as Barbaro), he has been on Nutrena Safe Choice which is very low in sugars and starches.

He gets his Safe Choice, beet pulp and coastal hay. I couldn't believe that he had ulcers, but the vet said it was probably due to the stress and pain of the castration.

Oh well... Just anther day in the life of a foundered horse.
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YankeeTurnedHillbilly
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Lord Helpus
Mar 29 2007, 05:18 PM

My vet is absolutely adamant that there is NO substitute for GastroGuard.

Mine says the same thing!
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Black Tack
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Interesting, I will have to talk to my vet about it this week as I do want to get him started on something soon. We have changed the feed over nice and slowly so it's time.

He gets mint Tums for treats now and thinks they are pretty tastey!

LH, what a drag for your poor guy :jaw: Talk about "if it's not one thing...it's another" !!
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Reynard Ridge
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So, symptoms are frequent, very mild colics? Crankiness? Tail switching, side biting? That kind of thing?

I have always suspected that my Pony has ulcers. She is very high strung and has always exhibited very, very mild colic type symptoms with some regularity. Never actually 'colicing' to the point of calling the vet, but I keep an eagle eye on her all the time.

Vet is coming for spring shots on Thur, so I'll talk to her about it.
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Black Tack
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I would definitely check it out RR. I am interested by how many people here scope for ulcers. At the barn I was at the trainer treated the symptoms, instead of spending the $$$ on scoping. You usually know within a week on the meds if they are helping (not even that long).
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YankeeTurnedHillbilly
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We didn't scope, we just started treating based on symptoms. So far so good.
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Black Tack
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Have you noticed differences now that she's on medication Yankee? If so, how long did it take before you saw them?
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bellboots
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I didn't scope either, just started the Ranitidine. Vet said that if the symptoms were ulcer related, that I should see something within 3-4 days and that would tell me if I needed to continue the treatment.

So, I saw some improvement within 3-4 days. And, as the treatment progresses even more improvement.

The only symptom left is bad faces when I put the saddle on, and trainer and I feel that this may be a learned (and now automatic) reaction since he's done it for so long. He no longer has the "don't touch me" attitude and loves to be brushed again!

I have been unable to get BO to bring Ultium into the feed program, but I am doing a 25/75 mix of Equine Senior and Beet Pulp (all soaked together). It seems to be working.

I have also cut out all sugary treats (carrots, peeps, etc) and give pepermint flavored Tums and sugar free cookies.

If anyone does do the Ranitidine treatment, Smart Pak Equine's prices are $20 a bottle less than my local vet. You may want to compare the prices in your area.
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BABYGREENTB
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i just finished the one month intensive treatment of ulcergard, moving to Ugard as a maintenance supplement this week...i will let you know how it goes, but trainer recommended it. it's pretty cheap compared to the other supplements out there...i think it was like $25 for a 50 day supply...unlike ulcergard which is $40/tube!
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YankeeTurnedHillbilly
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Apr 5 2007, 09:51 AM
Have you noticed differences now that she's on medication Yankee? If so, how long did it take before you saw them?

We did 6 doses of Ulcer Guard, and that was it. Otherwise, no medication - just dietary changes.

We have noticed a HUGE difference. Pony came to us a huge cribber, now barely cribs at all. Was thin and dull looking. Is now packing on pounds and getting a lovely bloom to her coat. Was a weaver, and a stall walker - now only see signs of that when she is in a high stress situation - when before we saw it all the time, for no reason.

I wouldn't mind starting her on a daily ulcer type supplement, just for prevention, but so far, the round of Ulcer Guard and the diet changes are making a big enough difference, we might not need to do anything more. Will see!
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Reynard Ridge
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Well, I gave my vet the "symptoms," really low level, but relatively frequently 'colicy' behavior, cranky, irritable and high strung. The vet went right for hormones - which, I suppose it could be - I just never thought of it.

And, I'm not ready to start her on hormone therapy. She does have (very!) good weight and a great bloom to her coat, so she's not exactly a horribly suffering case.

Perhaps I am just an owner with an overactive imagination. :yes:

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Black Tack
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Nope I don't think so RR.

What does she eat? My horse is in great weight and is very shiney. You would never look at him and say there was something wrong. I'll know as soon as I start the meds on Tuesday.

In the meantime he is gobbling up the mint Tums :one:
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Reynard Ridge
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Not much - she gets less than a pound of Buckeye Born to Win every day plus her ration of Farriers Formula. Our hay is grass - homegrown. She's on 24 hour turn out with access to run in shed and stall - she'll have 24 hour grass in another month.

I had her on BOSS for a while last summer, but she is an easy keeper and gets FAT.

It's just that I drive in the driveway and she's standing there, her tail cocked a little funny, nudging her belly, probably two or three times a week. Never serious enough to call the vet - she poops, she eats, she has gut sounds, so she's not horribly distressed.

But hormones???? C'mon. This is the 21st century, right?? I'm past hormones and on to ulcers - why can't my vet be, too???
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sporthorsefilly
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I've had great success with SUCCEED. It is cheaper to use than gastrogard, but it does heal ulcers. Only Gastrogard will actually heal an ulcer.
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