EQUINE CASE STUDIES > gastric ulcers case study #2

Gastric Ulcers Case Study 2

Veterinarian diagnosis: 3 horses with probable gastric ulcers, due to circumstances and symptoms, and blood work.

Brief history: March 2002. 3 young Arabian horses. Psyches Minx 1999 filly, Brilliant Psyche 1998 stallion, and The Silken Swan 1996 mare. All 3 had the same owner since birth, and were part of a group of horses boarded with a caretaker while the owner moved to another state, and set up a new barn. Unfortunately, after substantial board money was paid in advance and the owner moved to set up a new facility, these 3 horses along with 11 others were starved. Upon arrival from a commercial hauler to the new facility, all but 1 of the 14 total horses had lost between 200 and 300 lbs. One 23 y/o mare collapsed while being unloaded. Veterinarians were called, and emergency treatment was begun on all who needed it. Careful feeding programs were initiated for each horse individually, to help them to recover. All horses were started on electrolytes, iron and vitamin supplements, and probiotics. The 3 horses listed above, did not bounce back as was hoped for. Blood work was ran, and showed severe anemia, muscle wasting, due to starvation, and The Silken Swan showed kidney and liver failure. All 3 were reluctant to eat, especially sweet feeds of any kind. The only feed accepted was grass hay, all other was rejected. They were extremely listless and weak.  Scoping for the presence of gastric ulcers was recommended, but the nearest facility was several hundred miles away, causing even more stress for these horses, and finances were also a consideration.

These 3 horses were started on GastroPlus. All were dosed at 3cc per hundred lbs. 2x daily, for 14 days, and 1x daily for another 14 days.  The colt began eating within 48 hours on the GastroPlus, and the other 2 within 72 hours, were eating normally again. Energy resumed, and all 3 horses began to quickly pick up weight. By the end of the 30 days, all looked and acted normal again. Their coats were completely shed out, and they had brilliant shines. The stallion, who had  required double feeding all his life to maintain good weight, has been able to maintain excellent weight and condition on a regular amount of feed for his size since being on the GastroPlus. His temperament also changed. He is a much calmer, happier stallion to have around, and has no nasty habits. He is now 5 years old. None of these horses has had any reoccurrences.

After these horses had responded so well to treatment with GastroPlus, another, an 18 y/o gelding was also put on the product. He had been recovering and picking up weight, but not as quickly as the other horses had. He was a little listless, and just not himself. He was put on GastroPlus 30cc powder 2x daily for 7 days, then 1x daily for another 3 weeks. He quickly picked up weight, and strength, and recovered fully.