Late yesterday, I tuned into a Keeping Horses Healthy and Sound
During Transport webinar provided by TheHorse.com. This is the
third such educational webinar I've attended and each one has been informative
and very worthwhile.
As part of the discussion, the topic of horses with gastric ulcers came up.
Some of the symptoms were discussed as well as ways to minimize stress during
transport. After the webinar, I did a bit more research and learned that
gastric ulcers affect 50 - 60 percent of all horses.
As luck would have it, Dr. Megan Jurasek was in when I dropped by Banks
Veterinary Clinic this afternoon to pick up more horse wormer. I gave her a
quick update on my filly, Jetblue's, status and asked if the symptoms of insulin
resistance and gastric ulcers might be similar.
Last year, Jetblue experienced a series of colic episodes that culminated in
the big one this past January. I had to rush Jetblue to Oregon State
University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital for emergency, life-saving colic
surgery. Since that time, Jetblue has had three additional colics.
Dr. Jurasek told me that both conditions, insulin resistance and gastric
ulcers, can indeed produce colic and that gastric ulcers are prevalent in
horses that crib soon after being weaned. Bingo. Talking it through with Dr.
Jurasek, I decided to pick up some Ulcergard, a preventative medicine used
during stressful times like trailering a distance or going for a trail ride.
For now, Jetblue is stable, holding her weight, exercising routinely, and
getting regular pasture time. I'm researching the cost and benefits of
"scoping" a horse's stomach and, if ulcers are identified, treating
accordingly.
Here are two links to a couple of really good articles on the topic of equine
gastric ulcers:
http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/illnesses_injuries/eqhorseulc217/
http://americashorsedaily.com/controlling-horse-gastric-ulcers/
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