Post by bradford on Oct 22, 2012 23:04:41 GMT -5
So I strongly suspect Bentley is having ulcer issues, the vet will be scoping him this weekend to be sure. It could be possible there's something else going on tho, maybe other stomach/hindgut issues? I've done a lot of research but don't have the hands on experience.
Symptoms-reluctance to move forward, poor work ethic, pinned ears while riding, reluctant to get on the bit, sometimes (very rarely) turns his head while riding and attempts to bite my toe. He's also showing nasty behavior (sucking back, attempting to buck) when I put my leg on for him to move forward. He's always been a pretty lazy horse, but typically if I get after him he will move out without a tantrum, this behavior is certainly abnormal. He's never this awful, so it's clear my horse is telling me he is very uncomfortable.
One other thing, and I'm not sure if this is related or not, he will avoid taking a dump while be ridden at all costs, even when its obvious he needs to, and when he finally does (usually 45 mins into the ride) he moves much better...His stool is routinely normal, the only time it gets runny is when he trailers or arrives at shows.
Last spring I had a week or so of very bad behavior and I wrote it off as spring fever, but now this fall I'm having the same behavior, and I've read that the drastic weather changes wreak havoc on horses with ulcer problems.
He is sound, the saddle fits, and I've put him on ulcergard any time he will have extensive training rides, goes to a show, or leaves the barn for any reason...He is a horse that needs his teeth done ~every 6-8 months and we're at 5 now, so that will be looked at as well.
My current plan is 4-8 weeks of gastrogard (looks like no ones getting Christmas gifts this year) then I was considering putting him on SmartGut powder form after that, and of course keep up with the Ulcergard during intense periods.
So if anyone has any advice on treatment, prevention, medications, length of time kept on gastrogard or other meds, or what you've gone through with ulcers I'd be glad to hear it! And of course if you think these symptoms could possibly be something else I'm open to suggestions!
Symptoms-reluctance to move forward, poor work ethic, pinned ears while riding, reluctant to get on the bit, sometimes (very rarely) turns his head while riding and attempts to bite my toe. He's also showing nasty behavior (sucking back, attempting to buck) when I put my leg on for him to move forward. He's always been a pretty lazy horse, but typically if I get after him he will move out without a tantrum, this behavior is certainly abnormal. He's never this awful, so it's clear my horse is telling me he is very uncomfortable.
One other thing, and I'm not sure if this is related or not, he will avoid taking a dump while be ridden at all costs, even when its obvious he needs to, and when he finally does (usually 45 mins into the ride) he moves much better...His stool is routinely normal, the only time it gets runny is when he trailers or arrives at shows.
Last spring I had a week or so of very bad behavior and I wrote it off as spring fever, but now this fall I'm having the same behavior, and I've read that the drastic weather changes wreak havoc on horses with ulcer problems.
He is sound, the saddle fits, and I've put him on ulcergard any time he will have extensive training rides, goes to a show, or leaves the barn for any reason...He is a horse that needs his teeth done ~every 6-8 months and we're at 5 now, so that will be looked at as well.
My current plan is 4-8 weeks of gastrogard (looks like no ones getting Christmas gifts this year) then I was considering putting him on SmartGut powder form after that, and of course keep up with the Ulcergard during intense periods.
So if anyone has any advice on treatment, prevention, medications, length of time kept on gastrogard or other meds, or what you've gone through with ulcers I'd be glad to hear it! And of course if you think these symptoms could possibly be something else I'm open to suggestions!
