In a message dated 05/16/2002 9:09:28 PM US Mountain Standard Time, roger@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Does ANYONE on this list have a horse with an ulcer? OR do you know someone who has a
horse with ulcers.. other then the vets.. I just dont hear anyone
complaining about that problem.
My horse developed gastritis/ulcers. I raised her and her management profile was atypical of what the vet's said would cause ulcers. She was pastured or had grass hay available 24/7. She lived in a quiet environment on my own property. She had never had bute. She was not trained or competed in a stressful environment, etc., etc., etc.
Kaci had a colicky episode at the mid point of a ride, while out on the trail. I hand walked her for 3-4 miles and when we got to the vet check she seemed fine. They even said I could continue but I refused as she had seemed in such pain when she stopped on the trail. She was treated with banamine and dipyrone, actually prophylactically because by the time she arrived at the vet check her symptoms had subsided. I pulled and returned home. She rested for one week and then I took her on a short stroll. She returned home with mild colic symptoms. Vet was called out. She was given banamine again. Rest and pasture again for two weeks. A short training ride was okay. She gradually returned to work. About three weeks later after a short training ride a much more severe episode of "colic".
I called the Arizona Equine Hospital in Gilbert who felt she had a stone even though she had none of the risk factors. She was born in Arizona but was raised in Maryland and we had just recently returned to Arizona. She was on good pasture and when stalled she was fed off the ground in a feeder. She was on good bermuda grass hay 24/7. She was x-rayed but there were no stones or sand. Belly tap was negative. Endoscope was positive for severe gastritis which was borderline ulcerative. She was put on a 21 day course of antiacid meds four times a day and stomach coating agent (human drug Carafate) three times a day. After three weeks she was rescoped and another 21 days recommended as there was a small area of residual gastritis.
The vets suggested that I maintain her on one week a month meds to avoid a recurrence. They said that 40-60% of horses with ulcers have recurrences. I opted not to put her on the drugs and to my knowledge (no symptoms) she has never had a recurrence.
Lee
Life's too short to dance in someone else's shoes.
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