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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Gastric Ulcers » Gastric Ulcers in Adult Horses »
  Discussion on Ulcer and treatment duration
Author Message
Member:
Fpony

Posted on Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 - 10:43 am:

Hi Dr. O,
Dante has been on gastroguard for almost 4 weeks (3 days left)He was never scoped as he would have needed to be trailered 1 1/2 hours and he has tied up in the trailer before.

We decided to treat him for an ulcer as he was slightly off his feed in Dec and by January we had two episodes of "colicy" behavior but he always tried to eat during it and was passing manure and drinking plenty.

He has improved 85% but is still painful over his loin area and flanks and has still had mild discomfort signs-such as switching his tail once or twice and reaching back at his sides but this is short lived and I only see it 1 or twice a day.Last night he got a bit more violent with a kick at his side and then left his hay for 20 min. but ate his grain an hour later.

As it is time to order more gastoguard for the 2nd month 1/2 doses, I called my vet and the vet I don't usually see said because that due to the fact that Dante is such a nervous horse it might take longer for the ulcers to heal and I should continue to treat him for an ulcer.

Do you think this is reasonable way to approach this? I'm still worried about endoliths (SP?)He is an Arab and gets some alfalfa (3-4 cups of pellets 2 times a day total of 8 cups. Maybe a trip to Tufts would make more sence than paying nearly $500 more dollars for the 2nd month of treatment. Would they still be able to see the ulcers if he had them at this point? I would keep him on the gastoguard until we go to Tufts so i may need to invest in another 7 day carton which would treat for another 3 two weeks plus I have enough left over from the first month to treat for 6 more days. (I saved the extra 250 lb dose from each suringe)Thanks for advise in advance! Kim
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 - 9:10 am:

Well Kim we have been doing this together for 5 years now and I suspect you know what I am going to say: I cannot examine the horse so cannot determine the appropriateness of the treatment. I too would have thought 28 days of Gastroguard would have cured the pain from gastric ulcers.

If you think ulcers are a possibility then this is a reasonable course. If he is still having painful episodes from the ulcers, they should still be visible but even the presence of ulcers is not diagnostic for pain (see Ulcer article).
DrO
Member:
Fpony

Posted on Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 - 10:31 am:

I know, I know! I never assume you can remember who we all are or all our details, but in the back on my mind I suspect your thinking "She never gets it!"

My plan now is to take him to Tufts and get to the bottom of it all just to put my mind at ease. I'll post after our visit. Thanks, Kim (deep sigh!)
Member:
Fpony

Posted on Sunday, Feb 29, 2004 - 6:54 am:

Hi again,
Our appt is on Tues the 2nd. The vet at Tufts said she thought the ulcers would have healed so they first intend to do x-ray (due to his size) to check for stones of any kind and then ultrasound if x-ray doesn't show anything. They also plan on doing blood work. When I called to confirm our appt the woman on the phone told me to fast him 18 hours incase they do a scope.

Can you tell me what else they would see other than ulcers with the scope? Also, if I'm fasting him and we plan on using 2 cc of Ace before loading him will it have a quicker affect? I guess if it is IM and not orally that shouldn't matter?
Thanks, Kim
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Feb 29, 2004 - 9:12 am:

Kim they will not be looking for anything in particular, they will be looking for a normal esophagus and stomach and will note anything abnormal. The article on colic overview describes a number of diagnostic procedures besides those you list. I think you should print them out and discuss each with the staff at Tuffs while you are going to all this trouble but even with a thorough work up many cases of chronic colic go undiagnosed.
DrO
Member:
Fpony

Posted on Monday, Mar 1, 2004 - 1:26 pm:

Thanks Dr. O I'm headed to the colic section right,now.
Member:
Redalert

Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2004 - 9:15 am:

Kim, I am very interested in your outcome. My show horse had problems with ulcers. He was treated, and he got a year off of work, in the pasture. When he was brought in this April, he began working just fine for several months, then cronic colic episodes began again. Again, he was treated with gastrogard(3O DAYS). We went back to work three days ago. So far, so good. But I feel your(and certainly, HIS)pain. By the way, the picture of your place in the snow is beautiful! THANKS
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