Equine Ulcers: The diagnosis nobody wants to consider.

By Rosi Hubbard Slater

While I am by no means an expert on this subject, I have recently been forced down the path of understanding about horses and ulcers. Of late it seems to be the buzz word with veterinary medicine. I must admit to having been quite skeptical. Sure, you think of high-powered competitive horses, stalled or horses being transported for extended durations, etc., all being susceptible to this stress-induced affliction, but sadly, it is much more common than you could ever imagine.

Studies show that 60% of all competition horses experience ulcers. However, ulcers are also prevalent in our recreational, seemingly stress-free horses, too. In my horse’s case, he developed low-grade colic symptoms. He would intermittently kick out or at his tummy and swish his tail vigorously. Otherwise he acted quite normally. It was perplexing. My initial thought was that he hadn’t been drinking adequately and was dehydrated, possibly mildly impacted? But his manure was not telling that story. Mild impactions usually result in either slimy, coated manure or dry manure. I put him on electrolytes and probiotics for a week with no change.

Having had no success, I called my vet, Dr. John Smart, DVM. We tested for sand and parasites in his fecal, blood work was normal, rectal exam was normal, no dehydration and all other vital signs were normal. The abdominal tap was normal and only slightly slowed gut sounds and secum contractions were noticeable. He had Banamine for 3 days also resulting in no change.

We did discuss the possibility of ulcers, but my horse is the least likely horse on the planet to have ulcers. He simply doesn’t fit the mold. He is calm, relaxed, quiet and easy about everything. He’s a complete marshmallow. He enjoys 24/7 turnout in a pasture with his buddies, lots of good quality hay and no changes in his diet. Nope, we really didn’t think that could be it.

However, after a round of IV fluids with no improvement, Dr. Smart did a fecal test for ulcers. Low and behold, my calm boy tested positive for both stomach and hindgut ulcers! He had albumin and hemoglobin in his fecal. We started him on a protocol of Stem Phase Gastro Boost, a prebiotic/probiotic, along with ulcer formula and enzymes 3 times/day for 2 weeks, then 2 times/day for 5 weeks. We could have dosed him with omeprazole (GastroGard or UlcerGard) but that only inhibits acid production in the stomach and we needed to treat him with something that would heal his entire GI tract. Mind you, omeprazole is the right choice if you are dealing with just gastric (stomach) ulcers.

The first week was rough. He didn’t want to eat anything but hay so I had to give him his meds orally. After a week, he started to feel better and ate the meds on moistened hay cubes. As he felt better, his normal appetite and twinkle in his eye returned and we all breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The cost for the 7 week ulcer treatment was $850. While this is a lot of money, the benefit was in treating both the stomach and hindgut ulcers. I believe a similar regimen with GastroGard runs over $1000. The tricky part now is knowing what to do to prevent future ulcers. In our case, I have changed the way I feed him, making sure he has access to smaller amounts of hay spread out across the day. He is also having a richer alfalfa blend added in because the calcium in alfalfa is a good buffer kind of like horsey Tums.

“Equine ulcers fall into two primary categories – gastric (stomach) ulcers and hindgut ulcers. By far the most common and easily diagnosed type of ulcer, gastric ulcers are caused by excessive amounts of stomach acid. Elevated acid levels compromise the stomach’s lining and eventually lead to the formation of painful lesions and sores. These sores are repeatedly irritated by stomach acid and can produce significant health issues, ranging from grouchiness to colic and, in severe cases, death.” “Hindgut ulcers occur when lesions form anywhere in the digestive tract behind the stomach. These sores are typically the result of a disruption in the  pH balance, a condition known as hindgut acidosis.”  Written by Mark DePaolo, DVM   http://hl.depaoloequineconcepts.com/?q=node/5

Nobody wants to hear that their horse has ulcers, but it is manageable and a much better diagnosis than so many other possibilities. Listed below are several useful links to articles that have been helpful on this journey. I always tell people that all horses have something you will have to deal with, like people. Whether it’s a soundness issue, saddle-fitting, training challenges, or chronic health issues, we love them and do our best to make their lives and our partnerships with them the best we can!

http://hl.depaoloequineconcepts.com/?q=node/5

http://www.lunatunesfreestyles.com/horse_ulcers.htm

http://www.drkerryridgway.com/articles/article-ulcers.php

http://www.littleoasisequine.com/uploads/2/1/7/6/21760604/fact_sheet_hindgut_acidosis.pdf

 Helpful definitions for winter horse blankets

I found this wonderful explanation in the Jeffers pet catalog and thought I would share it with you. It answers many of the questions we have all had about types of winter blankets and how to measure and fit your horse.

DENIER is the type of thread the blanket shell is made of. The higher the number (i.e. 1680 Denier) the heavier the thread, the higher density of the weave. The higher the density - the greater the durability and strength of the fabric for outdoor use.
 WATERPROOF: a membrane is bonded to the inside of the shell allowing it to breathe and, at the same time, reject water penetration. Washing in soap and water will damage the waterproof properties of the membrane. If the outside of the blanket is a NYLON it is not waterproof. Jeffers Canvas Turn-Out Blanket is water resistant - NOT waterproof. Only the Denier blankets, including the stable blanket - ARE waterproof. CLIMATE: Most horses can do very well in mid-weight blankets because their hair is its own form of insulation and can keep most horses warm and toasty. For areas that have below 0 degree temperatures like Minnesota and New York, Maine and Michigan, the heavy-weight blankets will be far more comfortable for the horse. The higher the 'FILL', the warmer/heavier the blanket.

• Sheet - NO fill
  
• Lightweight - up to 120 grams
  
• Midweight has about 180 - 240 grams of fill
  
• Heavyweight has about 300 - 400 grams of fill

MEASURE FOR SIZE:Measure with a soft measuring tape from the center of the chest, around the point of the shoulder, back along the widest part of their flank and end just at the edge of the tail.To measure for a European cut of blanket, like WeatherBeeta or Horseware, measure the same way and subtract 2". If between sizes, round to the nearest blanket size. (ex. Your horse is a 76 and the blanket sizes are 75 and 78, pick a 75.)  STABLE BLANKET: designed to be used inside the barn where protected. TURN OUT BLANKET: designed to be used outside rain or shine, rough and tumble behavior.

Thank you to Jeffers Catalog for this extremely well-done write-up about horse blankets. You can see more on their site at:  http://www.jefferspet.com/horse-blankets-and-sheets/camid/PET/ca/170/

Great new facility! Great year in general!

Well, it's been quite some time since I last posted here. The good news is that the time has been full of many positive things, including purchasing and building a new horse boarding facility as well as lots of wonderful riding!

We are all enjoying my new place on Airport Road, between Bozeman and Belgrade. The half-mile riding track I put in around the perimeter of the back acreage is probably one of our most amazing features and it gets lots of use.

Our neighbors are wonderful and you couldn't ask for better views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

So, with all of that said, 2011 was a year of building and 2012 has been one for riding. I am extremely pleased with the progress I've been making with my mare, Bellini. We showed at the first two Bozeman Dressage & Combined Training Club schooling shows and scored very well. I've had the pleasure of riding with Patrick Severance at Saddle Peak Equestrian Center this spring and with Meggan Holloway of Holloway's Pretty Good Horse Barn this summer. I do believe we are extremely fortunate to have so many knowledgeable and talented instructors in the Valley.

We have a lot of activities that we are involved with for the next few months, including trail rides and a wedding, but hopefully it won't take me a year to get back to this blog! Click on the link below to go to my Facebook page. You can see lots more photos there.  Happy Riding!  Rosi

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?closeTheater=1#!/pages/Holiday-Horse-Care-Boarding-Stables/147941031907698

Update on EIA for 2011

We had a good wake-up call last season with the EIA reports in the Gallatin Valley. Hopefully my blog below was helpful in explaining about the Coggins test and the disease itself.


This year, most of the organized events are still requiring a current negative Coggins test to participate, so you should be sure to have blood drawn when you do your spring vaccinations. It's always better to be prepared.


You will also want to visit with your veterinarian about the new combined vaccines. I think we are going to see some better choices for protecting our horses in future.


Happy Riding! Rosi Slater

Equine Infectious Anemia and the Coggins Test

The Gallatin Valley had a wake-up call this spring. There were two reported positives for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). What we have since learned is how little we really know about this disease.

Here are a few facts that might help you, as a horse owner, make better decisions about the care of your horse. First of all, the name of the test done to see if the anti-bodies for EIA are present is called the Coggins test. Generally, those of us who show have to get an annual Coggins test done and be able to produce a yellow paper with a negative result to the show secretary, along with the required proof of vaccinations. This also holds true when horses are sold through a sale and/or you are crossing state lines with your horses.

Due to the two positive horses, many of the local equine events, including poker rides, have required a negative Coggins from 2010. I think that was a logical and sensible decision, but there are still problems with this. For example, when a horse is infected with EIA, it may take from 2 weeks up to 2 months to test positive. Which means that there are probably a good number of false negative tests out there, even for 2010.

Horses can test positive and not show any signs or symptoms at all, while others get really sick, and/or die. Sadly, even though a lot of research has been done, there is not vaccination for EIA yet. Apparently the disease hides so well inside the horse, it has been difficult for researchers to pinpoint a possible vaccine.

The disease is spread from one horse to another by biting flies. The good news is that the disease only seems to survive in the biting flies for about 20 minutes. The quarantine range has been set at 200 yards, so if you stay smart with your choices during fly biting season, you can help reduce the risk to your horses.

That is a really brief over-view and if you have more information regarding this topic I would love for you to add a post. The more we can learn about this disease, the better chance we have of keeping our horses safe and still being able to do all the fun things we love to do with them.

Oh, I should add that the two horses that tested positive have gone to a research facility where they will stay for the next 5 years. They are drawing blood on them periodically and sending it to test labs to make sure they are testing accurately. I was very happy to hear that these local horses didn't have to be put down.

A New Year!

It's time to dust off our saddles and start thinking about the upcoming riding season! I, for one, am getting a little stir-crazy to be riding consistently again. My young mare, Bellini, and I are headed for a couple months of indoor luxury at Holloway's Pretty Good Horse Barn.

The calendar is already filling up with fun equine events for 2010, including two Bozeman Dressage & Combined Training Club Hunter Paces, several Dressage shows and lots of trail rides. We rediscovered Bohart Ranch last summer and plan to spend a lot of time up there again this year.

We have a wonderful crew of active riders at my facility, Holiday Horse Care. If you have an interest to see what we did last year, you can check out the HHC Current Events tab on my main website.

Happy Riding!

Rosi Slater