Reading through some of the threads on ulcers, I notice a few posters mention seasonality. I’m treating my mare for the 2nd time in three years, and Feb is the time that I’ve had to start the treatment, both times. Is there some impact during the winter that others have noticed? For example, I’ve noted horses eating hay faster in the winter(I assume to keep warm), and thus may spend more time without hay in front of them? Let’s see your ideas here!
I know around here we have a lot of wild weather swings in late winter/early spring. If it can cause colic I am sure it doesn’t help ulcers. I also know my mare’s first few heats are rough and she ends up much more distracted/worried and eating less.
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No grass, so no grazing. Frozen pastures or deep mud, so no easy, relaxed movement throughout the day/night, or less turnout at all. More time in stalls, in the dark or artificial lights. More stress, if there is shared food sources. Winter stinks.
One question: have you dewormed the horse recently to get rid of encysted strongyles? If you have not, spring is often the time when the worms begin to emerge from their cysts and that creates lots of little ulcers. Similarly, if you’re deworming with something like Panacur, as the mature worms die, it seems to signal to the encysted ones that they should emerge.
There’s a good discussion of the problem here:
Parasitic colitis in horses
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I have a seasonal ulcer horse. It seems to be late fall into late spring. I keep him on a low level of PPI during this time and stop them when the temps have stabilized for the summer (except for traveling - he always gets them when leaving home). He has hay 24/7 and is turned out about 10-12 hours a day. He’s been scoped, tested for PPID, etc. No clue why the weather swings cause his ulcers but glad I’ve found a way to manage him!
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