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  Discussion on Quickly healing ulcers?
Author Message
Member:
Parfait

Posted on Friday, Aug 15, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

Dr. O,

I had a mare that had three mild colics this summer at some shows. Once June 7th, then July 1st and 4th. I wondered if she was stressing or in heat or what.

Anyway, we brought her home on the 4th of July and turned her out. I felt that she needed to be "let down". She did not perk up however and went off feed. By the second day, she stood in her grassy paddock, not eating. She was not distressed or colicy but would only nibble for a few bites and then that was it.

We decided to put her on Gastroguard over the 4th of July weekend. She picked up dramatically in 2 days and was stomping for her dinner again. I was leaving town and didn't want her scoped while I was gone and decided to have her done when I returned a week later. (The vet scoping her is 1/2 mile away but a bit of a goober).

We scoped her 10 days after her start date on Gastroguard. There was TONS of saliva (I think from her having to watch me feed the other horses-poor thing) and one *slightly* pinkish spot but she was clean.
The vet had me slowly wean her from the meds.
I was concerned because we have the Nationals that she needs to be fit for, in October. He told me to take her home, and "try to stress her" to see what would happen. That really scared my insurance people and they want a second opinion. Good grief. The vet wrote on my bill that the Gastroguard therapy likely resulted in healing the pre existing ulcers. I don't know why he stopped the meds.

A week after I took her off the Gastroguard, she started walking from her hay but will eat her grain. I gave her the rest of my alotted meds in half doses. She isn't as snorty as she likes to be but it has been hot.

How long does it take to heal an ulcer? Can they heal in 10 days? I think it's odd that a stalled horse will walk from hay. Should I be thinking about something other than ulcers?

What's your charge for a ranch call? sheesh(G)
Thanks!
Kerry
Member:
Tonijo

Posted on Friday, Aug 15, 2003 - 12:37 pm:

Kerry
My last mare had to stay overnite in a clinic a few days for a surgery and recovery and after her return(a few wks later) she was down and laid out flat wanting no food/water and when I sent her back they scoped her and said she had superficial ulcers and it was probably from being away from her environment, the surgery, the traveling etc but to avoid it from getting any worse that 8 full wks should have cleared the issue up. Because of the expense of Gastroguard they told me I could try a 6wk course of it, as alot of people do, but if I could financial do the 8wks it would be more benenficial. I did the 8 wks and she appeared to have no problems after that. I dont believe 10days is enough and I would think Dr.O would say the same. Secondly I know some people try to use other products that are similar to GG but I would pay the price and get the topline product and know that it has cleared and not masked. Thats if this is truly her issue, of course.
Good luck with your plan and her healing,
Toni
Member:
Parfait

Posted on Saturday, Aug 16, 2003 - 12:41 pm:

Thanks Toni,

I wonder if they can be visably <gone> in 10 days or if she has some funky disorder that would be even more expense/rare and of course, hard to cure but only flares at the big shows.LOL

Kerry
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 16, 2003 - 5:16 pm:

21 days or longer Kerry to heal. Some long term chronic ulcers may require 3 months. If she does not have ulcers when scoped there is another cause to the colic, see the Overview of Colic. My trip fee to WA for a urgent call from NC is about $4900, assuming you are not too far from a airport. I will throw in the exam.
DrO
Member:
Parfait

Posted on Saturday, Aug 16, 2003 - 6:30 pm:

Thanks Dr O.
Haha I would pay it for ONE DECENT VET LOL!!!

I'd sure put you to work. He wants to scope her again--talking about "pinpoint ulcers" or something. Now I want to change her feed all around. That's not right, either. HMMM. I'll just put her on Regumate and hope for the best. Thanks again as always.

Kerry
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 17, 2003 - 9:28 am:

Not exactly the tack I would take, unless the colics seem to occur in 3 week cycles. I would carefully read the article referenced above and one by one rule in or out each of the diagnostic causes and managment factors listed or discussed. Take the list and with the help of your vet put them in order of most likely to least likely, then address those you can.
DrO
Member:
Parfait

Posted on Sunday, Aug 17, 2003 - 11:02 am:

Thanks Dr. O

Maybe a little work-up at the clinic in Portland will put my mind at ease. It'll be like a day at the spa, we'll tell her. There are some other things I'd like looked at as well.

Kerry
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