Comment

Comment by Jan Jollymour on February 17, 2011 at 9:27am

Hi, Sherry:

It can be really hard dealing with family members about these kinds of issues.  It's almost like they argue just because you're related....

It sounds like the vets have put him on Gastrogard, which he'd need to be on for about 3 months.  That should make him internally comfortable, but it won't make dealing with misbehaviour any easier.  While negative behaviour can be the result of ulcer pain, there's usually an underlying cause for the behaviour, which is only exacerbated by the ulcer discomfort.  If the horse is an OTTB, and hasn't been "schooled" since leaving the track, your sister is heading for disaster.  Many OTTB's become very competent and enjoyable sport horses, but they need careful riding and handling in the early days.  Would she consider sending him to a trainer after the 3 month treatment period?

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on February 17, 2011 at 7:25am

Yes this is what the vet  told her, my trainer also told her the horse needed the same type of hay, My sisters horse was from the track and she does not work the horse, there is only one other horse in the barn with him. She treats him like a pet.He had a problem with the hoof that is when this all started.  New Bolton Vet gave him Medicine that he will need to be on for 3 months.  It might be best for the horse if she did work him, Last time she tried to ride him he threw her. She keeps the horse at her home, I board my horse at a barn with 35 other horse and a lot of turn out he is a draft/tb cross and we jump.  I tried to tell my sister that a horse needs a purpose, it falls on deaf ears.

Comment by Jan Jollymour on February 16, 2011 at 3:41pm

Hi, Sherry:

 

Lots of performance horses have ulcers - there's really not a breed correlation, but there's a very strong connection between management and ulcers.

 

Naprosyn is just as hard on mucosa as is Bute, and in some cases it's worse.  It may be that horse had ulcers which are not connected to the administration of NSAID's, many, many horses do.  While I believe in using alternative therapies, I only do so as adjuncts to modern medical therapies.  So, in this case, I wouldn't have anything against using chamomile, but I can promise you it won't heal what the horse already has, only Gastrogard will do that, and it will take at LEAST a month, more likely two or three months, of daily dosage, along with careful management, to heal the ulcers.

 

Regular and extended turnout periods on pasture and in small herds helps a great deal, as does feeding a grass/alfalfa hay mix.  It's best if grain's not fed at all to ulcer-prone horses; instead, look for one of the new forage based high fat feeds to keep extra weight on the horse if free-choice high quality hay won't do it.  Work horses only after hay feeds, not on empty stomachs - there's quite a lot of evidence suggesting that the sloshing of stomach acids during work contributes to the development of ulcers.

 

The vets at New Bolton Center will no doubt have given your sister all of this information, and probably will have scoped the horse to confirm the ulcer diagnosis.  Just to confirm what they have most likely told your sister as regards treatment:  don't expect to use anything other than Gastrogard to heal the ulcers, there is NO tested and proven relief available other than the Merial product (I wish there was, it's very expensive).  The horse's discomfort and pain will only be prolonged if the owner tries to cut corners...

Comment by Shirley on February 16, 2011 at 2:53pm

You might want to look into Naprofin for pain relief which I've read is suppose to be easier on the horses health. Save those organs and keep our horses healthy.

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on February 16, 2011 at 11:01am

Thanks for that information I will pass it on to her. Chamomile sounds like that might be something to look into.

Comment by Tracy McDermott on February 16, 2011 at 10:58am

The horse might have had stress ulcers from the foot problem and they blew up with even a small amount of bute. There are products like'Cool and Calm' that use minerals to calm horses, there is also Chamomile, one of the oldest methods to calm horses, add dry to feed, it works just like it does with you and me.

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on February 16, 2011 at 7:25am

He had a foot problem the vet put him on bute she did not give him the full amount, she now has him to New Bolton Center, They gave her medicine and he will have to go back every 3 weeks.

Comment by Tracy McDermott on February 15, 2011 at 7:43pm

Thoroughbreds aren't alone in getting ulcers your sister needs to find out what is causing the ulcers and work with a vet to cure them. Does this horse get 'Bute' or 'Phenylbutazone'. repeated use of this can cause ulcers. A vet will be the person to help and recommend a product to use. Ulcers are dangerous and painful for the horse.

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on February 15, 2011 at 10:21am

does anyone have a thoroughbred horse, My sister just found out her thoroughbred horse has very bad ulcers.  Does anyone know about a product called Mericle Clay by dynamite.  It is suppose to be good any feed back?

Comment by Mary-Joe Figueira on February 14, 2011 at 8:45pm

Excellent interpretation.

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