Does this sound like ulcers?

[UpandOver77]

Hey everyone!

My 17 year old thoroughbred gelding has been acting irritable the last couple days. He is definitely a normally quirky horse and is full of personality but never mean or aggressive. Got a call from BO this morning that horse was not acting like itself so went up to see him. He did not seem to be in distress but was definitely angry and somewhat uncomfortable. His appetite is great and he is drinking well with normal bowel movements and a normal temperature but does not want to be touched and is displaying occasional teeth grinding. He also seems more hungry then usual.

Horse lives outside in a small herd of 3 horses and has 24/7 access to round bale hay. He gets along very well with the other horses and nothing has changed in regards to environment. He is in very light work as he is coming back from a break. The weather here has been very inconsistent in terms of temperature and this horse especially is quite reactive to temperature changes. Sent a message to vet who believes he may be feeling the effects of worsened ulcers after spending the unusually very cold night standing in his shelter away from food. We are planning on starting him on a week of ulcer meds. Just wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts/ suggestions. Thanks!

[Simkie]

Is the intent with the week of ulcer treatment to use that as a diagnostic test, and if he improves, you’ll continue? A week of treatment isn’t nearly long enough to heal the stomach if it is ulcers (and may not be enough to see improvement, if it is.)

I would personally be hard pressed to blame a single cold night for a notable change in personality. A call from the barn on an older horse is worth an actual vet visit, imo. I’d consider testing for Lyme if the basic physical exam doesn’t point any another way.

And maybe the answer is just ulcers, but then the question is why. With no recent changes, free choice hay, and a stable herd, chronic pain enters the conversation.

[GraceLikeRain]

Not wanting to be touched and teeth grinding would have me having a vet out that day.

If nothing acute is noted I’d sedate and scope. A week of ulcer treatment does precisely nothing. It isn’t enough to heal ulcers and failure to see change in no way means ulcers are not present.

[UpandOver77]

Yes! Sorry, I should have clarified. The week of ulcer medication is just a starting point. Planning on scoping whether situation improves or not but if we happen to see any improvement over the week then at least it may give me some peace of mind on the cause and a starting point on diagnostics . Good point about the source of ulcers. My best guess is just the general instability of the weather over the past couple of months since he has always been reactive to changing temps, but definitely no harm in getting a full vet work up at the time of scope, just to rule anything else out.

[UpandOver77]

Thank you for the reply! Definitely going to scope.

[Simkie]

If you’re going to scope, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to start treating for ulcers before that. Scope, then treat what you see.

I’d really want the vet out sooner rather than later, though. Maybe not an asap emergency visit today, but a lot more than a phone call and an appt in a week or two.

[UpandOver77]

Vet appointment booked for later this week! Just got an update from BO who says he seems to be pretty content right now snacking in the sunshine. Will update after appointment!

[bingbingbing]

Is he getting blanketed during the extra cold temps?

[UpandOver77]

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[UpandOver77]

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