[QUOTE=PNWjumper;n9904546]
I agree with the above notes. I will not treat ulcers without adding in a hind gut support supplement as well.
I have two ulcer-prone horses. The first is my TB I’ve posted about many times here (he colicked twice badly as a result of being on long-term omeprazole - in short, long term omeprazole led to hind gut ulcers led to bad gas colics). Typical TB-type stress case. Going to shows or changes in routine are what really set him off. And there’s no changing that. So after lots of trial and error (or maybe not “error” so much as “no change”), I’ve found what works best for him.
My second is a young WB mare who I imported this winter. She was a happy horse living out in a field with an old mare until she was a late 4yo. I think the stress of being brought into the barn and started and then imported long distance is what really set her off. I thought she was an super anxious type horse when I got her. But after a few months of playing around with her, I put her on my other horse’s ulcer program at a show and it was a complete night and day difference. I don’t really know what sets her off, but going away to shows frequently certainly doesn’t help matters!
Anyhow, I have an at-home routine and an at-shows routine:
Baseline (meaning all horses including non-ulcery horses) is that everyone gets free choice or 3-meal-a-day orchard grass, LMF Showtime Grain, and Platinum Performance. And all horses live out 24/7.
In addition to that, at home: 1 flake of alfalfa with morning feed, SmartDigest Ultra, 1 oz of Apple Cider Vinegar.
At shows: I add a Chinese herb called Stomach Happy, I increase the Apple Cider Vinegar, and I also add Lysine and Zinc (though I do that for all of the horses as a way to support their immune systems - not as something aimed at ulcers). If I think my big guy is still a little ulcery I will add omeprazole back into the mix as well. But I cut it cold turkey on the last day of the show, and as long as I have him on Stomach Happy he doesn’t seem to have any issues as a result. I keep feeding the Stomach Happy for a week or two after the shows as well.
I haven’t tried stomach happy I will look that up. His worse near death colic was small intestine he was on gastrogard at the time. I never knew the cause of this colic but he had about 4 litres of reflux come out of the stomach tube. He was a surgical candidate but was given a rather poor prognoses. They said surgery or euthanasia but his heart rate had been down to 40 and I just felt he was fighting so I discharged him against medical advise and by some miracle he got better. My vets said the odds were 1/100,000 and they are happy he’s alive but he must have more than nine lives. I have treated him for ulcers because of a fear ulcers were a contributing factor in his colic. He has had no further colics since June but has recently become sensitive around the flank. No weight loss just one spot he doesn’t like being touched.
I may get him another appointment with internal medicine specialist but it’s a long haul and I have to hire a hauler so very expensive. In Canada my vet sells gastrogard at $50 a tube and he’s getting 1/4 daily as recommended. He’s also getting soaked alfalfa pellets, platinum profomance vitamin minerals, relyne GI and recently added viscearal. However I don’t feel this is effective and am thinking of changing his ulcer management. He gets an orchard alfalfa which is tested low in sugar.it’s lovely looking hey that was a little courser or than I wanted. As it’s all in my barn I can’t afford to discard it but I am thinking something softer next time maybe even Timothy. He likes alfalfa but doesn’t care much for the orchard.