The best diet for ulcer prone horses consists of low starch & high fibre. Many companies market pre-packaged feed as 'ulcer-friendly'. It always pays to look at the nutrition label. Or even better make up your own feed from quality ingredients. Feeds to Include Fibre sources such as hay, haylage and grass are vital for a healthy digestive system and should form the ... Continue Reading »
Gastric Ulcers
What’s more effective? Aloe vera or omeprazole for gastric ulcers?
Ask the Experts A clinical trial was conducted at the University of Adelaide. The trial was to compare the effects that Aloe Vera has on horses suffering from gastric ulcers to that of equine Omeprazole. Forty horses were used in the trial. Initially an endoscopy was performed on the forty horses. All horses taking part in the trial were confirmed to have ulcers grade two or ... Continue Reading »
Safely administering bute long term
Can I use bute long term? Bute can usually be used for 5-7 days with no adverse effects. But what if you need to treat with bute long term? Thankfully you don't need to cut off pain relief at 7 days. The solution is Gastrointestinal protectants like sucralfate. How does bute work? Bute, or Phenylbutazone functions by blocking the enzymes that contribute to pain and ... Continue Reading »
Managing a horse after omeprazole treatment
What happens after treatment? A successful course of omeprazole will heal a horse of existing ulcers, and there are a number of ways of managing a horse after omeprazole treatment. The unfortunate reality is that gastric ulcers are often recurring, especially if no changes have been made to remove the root causes of the ulcers. Common causes of ulcers include poor diet, stress, ... Continue Reading »
Long Term Effects of Omeprazole on horses
Omeprazole is the gold star treatment for equine ulcers, but what are the long term effects of omeprazole on horses? Like every medication, omeprazole has long term effects. It is important to understand how long term use may effect the horse. Bone Density Studies involving both humans and experimental animals show that using omeprazole for more than one year can lead to ... Continue Reading »