[royalrox]

it's south east about 45 min west of Philly...

If he had gotten ulcers what other signs would there be...

my vet is an equine speicalist and I asked about supplements etc, unfurtunately he is rather old school (sort of looking for a new one) and doesn't believe any of that works so wouldn't suggest one...my BO has her horse on U-gard for ulcers but I really don't know about colic type supplements...also low on money so they'd have to be cheap lol

thanks for all the suggestions

[Lindsayanne]

Originally Posted by royalrox

it's south east about 45 min west of Philly...

If he had gotten ulcers what other signs would there be...

my vet is an equine speicalist and I asked about supplements etc, unfurtunately he is rather old school (sort of looking for a new one) and doesn't believe any of that works so wouldn't suggest one...my BO has her horse on U-gard for ulcers but I really don't know about colic type supplements...also low on money so they'd have to be cheap lol

thanks for all the suggestions

The textbook symptoms include

• Poor appetite
• Colic
• Decreased performance
• Attitude change
• Poor body condition
• Weight loss
• Dullness

But some of those take a while to become obvious and not every horse is going to present the same way.

There is apparently a diagnostic blood test now, but it's not 100% accurate, the only way to know for sure is to scope the horse, which I believe runs more than $1000. So most people just treat for 30 or 45 days with GastroGuard, and then follow up with a preventative. GastroGuard is not cheap, but definitely cheaper than scoping.

Apparently ulcers in horses are becoming more common, or just better understood and recognized. It's especially a risk in young horses and with all the drama with my babies this year (Deb was sick in the vet-hospital from about 4 days old to 14 days, and then Kawai bruised her pelvis and was on meds and stall rest) so I've had to learn! Luckily not the hard way, thanks to vigilance by my vet.

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

The textbook symptoms include

• Poor appetite
• Colic
• Decreased performance
• Attitude change
• Poor body condition
• Weight loss
• Dullness

But some of those take a while to become obvious and not every horse is going to present the same way.

There is apparently a diagnostic blood test now, but it's not 100% accurate, the only way to know for sure is to scope the horse, which I believe runs more than $1000. So most people just treat for 30 or 45 days with GastroGuard, and then follow up with a preventative. GastroGuard is not cheap, but definitely cheaper than scoping.

Apparently ulcers in horses are becoming more common, or just better understood and recognized. It's especially a risk in young horses and with all the drama with my babies this year (Deb was sick in the vet-hospital from about 4 days old to 14 days, and then Kawai bruised her pelvis and was on meds and stall rest) so I've had to learn! Luckily not the hard way, thanks to vigilance by my vet.

hmmm, well his appetite is INSANE lol, and he's still putting on weight...however I havn't been riding him as much as usual (winter) and usually when I ride him daily he still can be a bit frisky every now and then but lately I've been riding 3-4 times a week and he's been quiet as ever, but his overall demeanor hasn't changed, still very curious and energetic...but I think I might try the Gastro Guard...do you know how much it is normally?

[cminor]

There are several items on the market for ulcers. I know someone at a barn I boarded at once gave ulcerguard and then there was some pink liqiud stuff in a bottle, name is escaping me right now. I always called it pepto bismal. You know for what you are going thru right now I would do some looking into a ulcer medication like LA suggested treat him for a month or two and see how it goes. Talk to your vet or another vet about it and see what they think. I know with the horse I was talking about, his owner was sometimes late about supplying the supplement or the kids that fed on the weekends would not give it to him and he would colic that night or the next day without it.

[PeggySue]

have you gotten a new bag of feed recently ?? with no fixed formula that could easily be the problem

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by PeggySue

have you gotten a new bag of feed recently ?? with no fixed formula that could easily be the problem

mmm well it's been going on for several months now a few weeks apart each time and we've gotten several new bags of feed so I don't think that's it just because the time periods been so long...

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by cminor

There are several items on the market for ulcers. I know someone at a barn I boarded at once gave ulcerguard and then there was some pink liqiud stuff in a bottle, name is escaping me right now. I always called it pepto bismal. You know for what you are going thru right now I would do some looking into a ulcer medication like LA suggested treat him for a month or two and see how it goes. Talk to your vet or another vet about it and see what they think. I know with the horse I was talking about, his owner was sometimes late about supplying the supplement or the kids that fed on the weekends would not give it to him and he would colic that night or the next day without it.

so is the gastro guard something you get from your vet? I thought it was a supplement lol

[PeggySue]

Originally Posted by royalrox

mmm well it's been going on for several months now a few weeks apart each time and we've gotten several new bags of feed so I don't think that's it just because the time periods been so long...

is there any way you can see if the colic happens with new batches of feed?? What I am thinking is that he is sensitive to those changes ie different feed stuff and when you are getting new feed he is having problems becasue you are doing what MOST of us do new bag of same feed don't worry about it becasue it SHOULD be the same but without fixed formula that is not the case

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by PeggySue

is there any way you can see if the colic happens with new batches of feed?? What I am thinking is that he is sensitive to those changes ie different feed stuff and when you are getting new feed he is having problems becasue you are doing what MOST of us do new bag of same feed don't worry about it becasue it SHOULD be the same but without fixed formula that is not the case

Well our Stategy is pretty much gone as of today...so yes but we put about 4 bags of it in our feed bin so would that defeat the purpose?

[PeggySue]

I would look into a feed that is a fixed formula also lower the grain content which will also help if he does have ulcers and will help to calm him down some