Looking Past The Pretty Picture

Around this time last year it began. The little signs. His first "colic" episode ever since I've owned him, not eating as much hay but still eating it, becoming picky with a supplement he had once had no problem eating, & some rides he seemed a little more on edge but nothing I would think too much about. Things were slowly very slowly beginning to spiral out of control without me being aware. The colic was thought to be due to the weather especially since it was a gas colic that resolved easily. The hay was thought to maybe needing his teeth done which were due the month following. The slight increase in anxiety when being ridden was thought to be cooler weather or having an off day as the rides were not always that way, but at the time more good than bad. The supplement was thought to maybe needing a change in flavor because once the flavor changed he seemed to eat it once more. Funny how easily you pass things off on a day to day basis. I would have never in a million years thought those signs were to become a long battle to fight for his health. It's been 7 months since he was first diagnosed with Grade 2 & 3 gastric ulcers with bleeding along with bleeding colonic ulcers. I was never unaware of the ulcer potential & thought I was doing everything I needed to take care of any possible problem. Funny how everything turned out though. Ben was the perfect picture of health when he started showing the "little signs". His weight was beyond perfect & muscle tone was perfection. His coat was shinning like a brand new penny & other than those above issues he appeared fine. Horse with ulcers can appear all sorts of ways. Some looking sick or others looking picture of health. You never know what's truly lurking beyond the surface though you try to do what you feel are the right things.

Ulcers can form in as little as 5 days. Yes you read correctly 5 days! There is always a reason a horse gets ulcers. Figuring out the main cause as to why the horse got ulcers in the first place is what's going to prevent a relapse in the future. Take a step back evaluate your horses entire management including riding & check for any sources of pain that could be causing an issue. After that make changes. With just throwing medications at your horse & not changing anything your setting everyone involved up for a relapse. Give your horse some time off once you've had an official diagnosis of ulcers. Ulcers hurt & just because you mask the signs/symptoms with medications & they start improving does not mean the ulcer injury is fully healed yet because it takes time sometimes months! Ben was treated for 6 months with 3 different medications & changing everything with his management. I am still trying to get that last 50 pounds back on him so he is comfortable with the upcoming winter. Get a gastroscopy done by your vet. Yes its expensive & not always convenient but you need to know the grade of ulcers to start the proper treatment plan. I did the gastrogard for 1 week to see if there was improvement. Did he improve yes but he had another "colic" after a week. Why? Because Gastrogard though a great product is not able to treat the entire stomach so that leaves some of it plus possible colonic issues open & ready to burn literally. Ben was placed on 2 additional medications which one was for covering the areas in the stomach the Gastrogard didn't reach & the other for the colonic ulcers. After you have your appropriate treatment plan in place weaning off medications is a process & takes a long time so they don't relapse & get the gastric acid rebound effect that can & does happen. Evaluate everything your currently doing with your horse. Feed should be low sugar, low starch , & high fiber while being split into small frequent feedings. Alfalfa is your friend as long as your horse tolerates it because the calcium & increased chewing helps decrease stomach acid. Hay, hay, & more hay is very important for your horse to always have available to them adlib ideally in slow feeder nets to help mimic grazing. Turnout the more your able to do the better to keep everything moving. Riding wise take a look at what your asking of your horse then ask yourself if they are coping with the job they are being asked to do if not step it down & take things slow after the ulcers are healed might I add. Support your horses digestive system with a digestive supplement that covers the stomach & hindgut. Don't forget the hindgut! Setting your horse up for success is key. If you plan to show & trailer there is preventative doses of Ulcergard to help keep things cooled down but read the instructions they recommend with starting it before you actually show/trailer & continuing a few days after.

Take home message is listen to your horse they know what they're talking about. Look at the little things but don't obsess over everything. If you have that little twinge in your stomach that's maybe thinking there might be a problem then act now don't wait until it's an even bigger problem. It's cheaper & easier on your horse to act sooner rather than later! Wishing all your horses good health!

THESE PHOTOS ARE WHAT BEN LOOKED LIKE WHEN HE BEGAN HAVING SIGNS DONT LET AN APPREANCE ON THE OUTSIDE FOOL YOU ON WHAT COULD BE GOING ON IN THE INSDE.