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 Expert
Posts: 2335
  
Location: IL | I'm so tired of trying to prevent ulcers....I'm at my witts end! I have done everything possible to prevent ulcers, yet I'm still having problems, and it don't think it's so much just the foregut. I think it's hindgut also. My horses always have hay or turned out on pasture. I give omeprazole when we are traveling starting 24 hours before we leave. I have used several supplements that may help, but don't stop them. I have changed my horses feed. What do you guys do to help straighten out the digestive tract? I haven't even been hauling that much this year. I'm tired of buying supplements that don't really seem work and just wasting money. For people that haul all the time, what do you guys do? If you don't want to post it on here then PM me. There's got to be a way to haul and compete without having to dose with omeprazole everyday or go broke trying to fix this all the time.
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
 
Location: NE Texas | Cur-Ost. I too fought the ulcer battle for years. Found the Cur-Ost product while trying to get my horse out of respiratory distress and in the process also healed my horse's ulcer symptoms. I've had the most amazing results from this product, as have others at this point now. I had my horse on long term doses of ranitdine, omeprazole, and several of the other supplements through the years and he was always still symptomatic. Took him off of everything when having the respiratory issues so I could start the Cur-Ost and solved my ulcer issues in the process.
My horse was so bad that he would kick you if you even brushed him where a back cinch would go. Now he moves over and wants you to scratch him where he used to get so mad at you for touching. Check out the forum at https://secondvet.com/index.php/forum/equine and read the Office Hours post regarding grasping the concepts of inflammation. It is very informative about how inflammation affects the horse's entire body and the importance of a healthy inflammatory response, beginning with the hindgut.
I hope you'll post your question about ulcers in the forum so we can all continue to benefit from each others experiences and questions with our horses. The pictures of below are of my horse before starting the Cur-Ost product, and 30 days into the program. My problems were way bigger than just ulcers, but handled the ulcer issues along the way. Huge thanks to Dr. Schell, Nouvelle Research, and Second Vet, as I had exceeded any traditional treatments through 4 very capable vets and there was nothing more I could do medically to treat my horse.
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | Have you had your horse scoped? Maybe there is another issue going on? | |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | It's not just one, it's all of my horses. When I treat with omprazole they all get better. Herbie, I have been following your posts about that product. I am curious about it, but it's kinda of expensive. Does it always need to be used? And I'm just afraid of wasting more money. My husband is already irritated with using all these products...lol | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Trust me, nobody was more tired of wasting money than me. I spent THOUSANDS of dollars on vets, thousands more on products, and thousands on futurity nominations that I had to scratch my horse at because he was too sick to compete. I get it. I consulted with Dr. Schell for probably three weeks before I finally purchased the product as a "one last shot" kind of deal. BEST MONEY I'VE EVER SPENT FOR ANY HORSE IN MY PROGRAM! Yes, it is expensive, but it's worth absolutely every penny.
Flitastic said the same thing....it's expensive.....but now the resuts seen are obvious there as well. Same for several others who are now using the product.
After everything i've been through and tried, i'd spend twice that on it honestly. I will never go back to processed feeds, nor will I ever be without my Cur-Ost. It literally saved my horse's life and that is no exaggeration. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | Which cur-ost product do you use? I just need an all around one, maybe with joint and gut help? | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | MC1993 - 2015-08-19 10:30 AM Which cur-ost product do you use? I just need an all around one, maybe with joint and gut help?
My case is a bit different because we had to aggressively treat and try to get the immune system back functioning. Challenging to say the least, especially after all else we'd been through. I currenlty use the Total Support, Immune & Repair, and the Adapt & Calm. After I feed through this bag of Immune & Repair, I will probably not reorder it unless needed. Dr. Schell wanted me to keep him on the Immune & Repair along with the Total for 90 days, and we're past that with this last bag, so I will back him down to the Total Support along with the Adapt & Calm.
For a young horse that doesn't have any issues or just starting their career, I would go with the Green formula. For a performance horse who tends to have some inflammatory issues, I would go with the Total Support. | |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | Herbie - 2015-08-19 10:37 AM MC1993 - 2015-08-19 10:30 AM Which cur-ost product do you use? I just need an all around one, maybe with joint and gut help? My case is a bit different because we had to aggressively treat and try to get the immune system back functioning. Challenging to say the least, especially after all else we'd been through. I currenlty use the Total Support, Immune & Repair, and the Adapt & Calm. After I feed through this bag of Immune & Repair, I will probably not reorder it unless needed. Dr. Schell wanted me to keep him on the Immune & Repair along with the Total for 90 days, and we're past that with this last bag, so I will back him down to the Total Support along with the Adapt & Calm.
For a young horse that doesn't have any issues or just starting their career, I would go with the Green formula. For a performance horse who tends to have some inflammatory issues, I would go with the Total Support.
Herbie are you a dealer for this product? | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | merdth6 - 2015-08-19 11:04 AM Herbie - 2015-08-19 10:37 AM MC1993 - 2015-08-19 10:30 AM Which cur-ost product do you use? I just need an all around one, maybe with joint and gut help? My case is a bit different because we had to aggressively treat and try to get the immune system back functioning. Challenging to say the least, especially after all else we'd been through. I currenlty use the Total Support, Immune & Repair, and the Adapt & Calm. After I feed through this bag of Immune & Repair, I will probably not reorder it unless needed. Dr. Schell wanted me to keep him on the Immune & Repair along with the Total for 90 days, and we're past that with this last bag, so I will back him down to the Total Support along with the Adapt & Calm.
For a young horse that doesn't have any issues or just starting their career, I would go with the Green formula. For a performance horse who tends to have some inflammatory issues, I would go with the Total Support.
Edited by Herbie 2015-08-19 1:36 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | I use GastroPLUS and FORCO | |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Cowgirl Kat - 2015-08-19 12:54 PM I use GastroPLUS and FORCO
That's what I use also. I've seen great improvement in her cow patty poops (solids now) but she is still cinchy. It's always SO FUN to try to figure these animals out :) | |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | I don't have anymore ulcery, rough looking horses since I cut out all of the processed commercial feed that we were feeding our competition horses. We were using a lot of Gastrogard, EPM drugs, fat supplements, blood builders, injectible vitamins, and constantly going to the vet for inflammation and injuries.
Like you mention, ALL of mine looked bad and it was a constant struggle to keep them looking decent. I know now that mine was largely due to cattle medications that were contaminating the feed, but my horses have NEVER looked better than they do now. They are on the most natural diet that I can provide for them. High quality alfalfa cubes with oats and flax, some grass hay if they want it, and pasture at night. My daughter likes to supplement her mares with 1# of oats a day for a little extra "fire", but otherwise they are not getting any feed. We have been very pleased with the results that we have seen since we started focusing on a primarily forage diet. | |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | I don't feed processed feeds anymore. They get 1 1/2 lbs (approx since every horse is different) oats once a day, flax seed, forco, and alfalfa pellets or cubes. They are also turned out all the time. They have hay (grass/clover mix) in front of them at all times or they are turned out on grass pasture. They also get joint/stomach supplements in their oats. We changed feed approx 3 weeks ago. Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon? | |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| rachellyn80 - 2015-08-19 12:25 PM
I don't have anymore ulcery, rough looking horses since I cut out all of the processed commercial feed that we were feeding our competition horses. We were using a lot of Gastrogard, EPM drugs, fat supplements, blood builders, injectible vitamins, and constantly going to the vet for inflammation and injuries.
Like you mention, ALL of mine looked bad and it was a constant struggle to keep them looking decent. I know now that mine was largely due to cattle medications that were contaminating the feed, but my horses have NEVER looked better than they do now. They are on the most natural diet that I can provide for them. High quality alfalfa cubes with oats and flax, some grass hay if they want it, and pasture at night. My daughter likes to supplement her mares with 1# of oats a day for a little extra "fire", but otherwise they are not getting any feed. We have been very pleased with the results that we have seen since we started focusing on a primarily forage diet.
You aren't feeding the omega force anymore? I've moved and now my horses are on 24 hour turnout on pasture but it's been so dry and hot here grass is burning up. I've got 4 on the omega force and my yearling on ultium growth. I'm thinking about trying to get some more omnis if it's readily available here still .. sick of watching my geldings scrap over grain.. I have to take the yearling out to feed him because those bullies will run him off his feed. I know they didn't scarf down the omnis like they do the grain. I don't have stalls anymore and the whole pasture is hot wire so no where to tie and feed them. Such a pain! | |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | merdth6 - 2015-08-19 12:53 PM
I don't feed processed feeds anymore. They get 1 1/2 lbs (approx since every horse is different) oats once a day, flax seed, forco, and alfalfa pellets or cubes. They are also turned out all the time. They have hay (grass/clover mix) in front of them at all times or they are turned out on grass pasture. They also get joint/stomach supplements in their oats. We changed feed approx 3 weeks ago. Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon?
I think you are expecting too much too soon. As I have said before, if you have ulcers, you first need to cure them. Then you need to adjust your diet management to make a return of ulcers less likely. Your current diet should minimize the likelihood of ulcers returning. I would also check that there are no rough spots on the outside of the upper teeth, or hooks on the inside of the lowers. If the cheek or tongue are irritated your horse will eat as much, but chew less. This makes less saliva which is a natural buffer to stomach acid. When I see horses that should not have ulcers based on diet management like this, but do, it is most often a teeth issue. | |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | want2chase3 - 2015-08-19 12:57 PM rachellyn80 - 2015-08-19 12:25 PM I don't have anymore ulcery, rough looking horses since I cut out all of the processed commercial feed that we were feeding our competition horses. We were using a lot of Gastrogard, EPM drugs, fat supplements, blood builders, injectible vitamins, and constantly going to the vet for inflammation and injuries.
Like you mention, ALL of mine looked bad and it was a constant struggle to keep them looking decent. I know now that mine was largely due to cattle medications that were contaminating the feed, but my horses have NEVER looked better than they do now. They are on the most natural diet that I can provide for them. High quality alfalfa cubes with oats and flax, some grass hay if they want it, and pasture at night. My daughter likes to supplement her mares with 1# of oats a day for a little extra "fire", but otherwise they are not getting any feed. We have been very pleased with the results that we have seen since we started focusing on a primarily forage diet. You aren't feeding the omega force anymore? I've moved and now my horses are on 24 hour turnout on pasture but it's been so dry and hot here grass is burning up. I've got 4 on the omega force and my yearling on ultium growth. I'm thinking about trying to get some more omnis if it's readily available here still .. sick of watching my geldings scrap over grain.. I have to take the yearling out to feed him because those bullies will run him off his feed. I know they didn't scarf down the omnis like they do the grain. I don't have stalls anymore and the whole pasture is hot wire so no where to tie and feed them. Such a pain!
No, we had been tapering them off of it for a while. Ultimately they look and feel better on these cubes alone than they did on the processed feed. I love the way the Bluebonnet feeds helped me bring my horses back around, but it's still an extremely concentrated feed. After everything we've been through this year, I wanted to get them on a natural diet and see if they could maintain their condition and energy levels....They have done that and more. We don't have one horse on the place that has lost any weight. I still have my old mare and my yearlings on their Intensify Sr and Growth feeds and they all get Omnis cubes free choice.
I love the fact that they have to take their time and eat the cubes more slowly. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Herbie - 2015-08-19 8:24 AM
Trust me, nobody was more tired of wasting money than me. I spent THOUSANDS of dollars on vets, thousands more on products, and thousands on futurity nominations that I had to scratch my horse at because he was too sick to compete. I get it. I consulted with Dr. Schell for probably three weeks before I finally purchased the product as a "one last shot" kind of deal. BEST MONEY I'VE EVER SPENT FOR ANY HORSE IN MY PROGRAM! Yes, it is expensive, but it's worth absolutely every penny.
Flitastic said the same thing....it's expensive.....but now the resuts seen are obvious there as well. Same for several others who are now using the product.
After everything i've been through and tried, i'd spend twice that on it honestly. I will never go back to processed feeds, nor will I ever be without my Cur-Ost. It literally saved my horse's life and that is no exaggeration.
Yup!!!! My extreme allergy horse would cough every time something bloomed, slightest wiff of dust, etc. Has been on Curost toal support for 2 weeks and he is a different horse. No cough, no girgle. THe biggest thini I see is during his runs. Because of no air he would be 1D horse smoking a run all the way to 3rd barrel and just not hardly be able to run home. After a week he was running hard MOST of the way home ( Moved up to 2D from 3D), now after 2-3 weeks he fires beginning to end and I have to calm him down! LOL My colt is on the GREEN formula and Adapt and calm and is looking and doing awesome. | |
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| Herbie - 2015-08-19 9:46 AM
merdth6 - 2015-08-19 11:04 AM Herbie - 2015-08-19 10:37 AM MC1993 - 2015-08-19 10:30 AM Which cur-ost product do you use? I just need an all around one, maybe with joint and gut help? My case is a bit different because we had to aggressively treat and try to get the immune system back functioning. Challenging to say the least, especially after all else we'd been through. I currenlty use the Total Support, Immune & Repair, and the Adapt & Calm. After I feed through this bag of Immune & Repair, I will probably not reorder it unless needed. Dr. Schell wanted me to keep him on the Immune & Repair along with the Total for 90 days, and we're past that with this last bag, so I will back him down to the Total Support along with the Adapt & Calm.
For a young horse that doesn't have any issues or just starting their career, I would go with the Green formula. For a performance horse who tends to have some inflammatory issues, I would go with the Total Support.
Herbie, you can only lead the horse to water, you can't make them drink. LOL | |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | FLITASTIC - 2015-08-19 2:00 PM Herbie - 2015-08-19 8:24 AM Trust me, nobody was more tired of wasting money than me. I spent THOUSANDS of dollars on vets, thousands more on products, and thousands on futurity nominations that I had to scratch my horse at because he was too sick to compete. I get it. I consulted with Dr. Schell for probably three weeks before I finally purchased the product as a "one last shot" kind of deal. BEST MONEY I'VE EVER SPENT FOR ANY HORSE IN MY PROGRAM! Yes, it is expensive, but it's worth absolutely every penny.
Flitastic said the same thing....it's expensive.....but now the resuts seen are obvious there as well. Same for several others who are now using the product.
After everything i've been through and tried, i'd spend twice that on it honestly. I will never go back to processed feeds, nor will I ever be without my Cur-Ost. It literally saved my horse's life and that is no exaggeration. Yup!!!! My extreme allergy horse would cough every time something bloomed, slightest wiff of dust, etc. Has been on Curost toal support for 2 weeks and he is a different horse. No cough, no girgle. THe biggest thini I see is during his runs. Because of no air he would be 1D horse smoking a run all the way to 3rd barrel and just not hardly be able to run home. After a week he was running hard MOST of the way home ( Moved up to 2D from 3D ), now after 2-3 weeks he fires beginning to end and I have to calm him down! LOL My colt is on the GREEN formula and Adapt and calm and is looking and doing awesome.
Great news Flit! Hopefully my next door neighbor sees this and tries it. She has fought allergies for years on her now retired horse. Herbie has led a lot of people to the "water"- 
Orignal poster, I do think you are expecting too much too soon (3 weeks). And alternating between the two can cause stomach distress.
Also, be aware that many alfalfa pellets and cubes actually are commercially processed, much like cow cubes- in a facility where they are using lesser quality hay that is chopped up and rehydrated, ingredients added, mold inhibitors, ect. I would research those items and where and how they are made if you choose to continue using them. But I would choose one form and stick with it.
Looks to me that you may be feeding a quaility ration without needing the alfalfa?
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | We use Standlee Alfalfa cubes or pellets. The reason why we switch is because sometimes the store doesn't always have cubes. I also disagree about the alfalfa. We need to make sure our horses get enough calcium since the calcium to phosphorus ratio is inverted because we are feeding whole oats and flax seed. Maybe your right though and I'm expecting to much to happen too soon. | |
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| And just FYI, and Herbie Knows this.. I spend more a month on Curost than I do my Car payment. It was really hard for me to justify 115.00 a month, but I am picking up more checks since my horse can breathe and actually run. | |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Picked up some omnis today and filled their feed pans full of them .... it sure slowed them down and there was a ton less bickering and ugly looks from the horses ... I was even able to feed my yearling out with the geldings they didn't bother him much at all. They played musical pans just a few times then everyone settled in and ate | |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | want2chase3 - 2015-08-19 12:57 PM rachellyn80 - 2015-08-19 12:25 PM I don't have anymore ulcery, rough looking horses since I cut out all of the processed commercial feed that we were feeding our competition horses. We were using a lot of Gastrogard, EPM drugs, fat supplements, blood builders, injectible vitamins, and constantly going to the vet for inflammation and injuries.
Like you mention, ALL of mine looked bad and it was a constant struggle to keep them looking decent. I know now that mine was largely due to cattle medications that were contaminating the feed, but my horses have NEVER looked better than they do now. They are on the most natural diet that I can provide for them. High quality alfalfa cubes with oats and flax, some grass hay if they want it, and pasture at night. My daughter likes to supplement her mares with 1# of oats a day for a little extra "fire", but otherwise they are not getting any feed. We have been very pleased with the results that we have seen since we started focusing on a primarily forage diet. You aren't feeding the omega force anymore? I've moved and now my horses are on 24 hour turnout on pasture but it's been so dry and hot here grass is burning up. I've got 4 on the omega force and my yearling on ultium growth. I'm thinking about trying to get some more omnis if it's readily available here still .. sick of watching my geldings scrap over grain.. I have to take the yearling out to feed him because those bullies will run him off his feed. I know they didn't scarf down the omnis like they do the grain. I don't have stalls anymore and the whole pasture is hot wire so no where to tie and feed them. Such a pain!
That is one of the things I absolutely love about the Omnis cubes, my broodmares don't fight over the feed anymore. They pretty much just follow me around until thier feed is put out then happily munch thier cubes for an hour or two. Much safer for me out there feeding them plus I am feeding less pounds of feed and hay combined and they all put on weight. | |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| I have a mare that is BAD about getting sick with ulcers when hauling. Even to small jackpots. Here is what I do:
Everyday, she stays turned out morning and night and gets free choice grass hay with a flake or two of alfalfa a day.
Feed: Blue Bonnet Intensify
SmartGut Ultra
1/2 cup flax seed
Red Cell (while hauling hard)
2 days before barrel race: she gets a maintenance dose of Abler omeprazole granules (2 packets) in her feed mixed with 1/2 scoop sweet feed and kayro syrup (I have to hide them well and cannot mix them with water or water based additives)
1 day before barrel race and during barrel race she gets treatment dose of Abler omeprazole granules (3 packets) in her feed with the above mixture.
She gets a hay bag with grass hay and alfalfa at the trailer/ in stall the entire time accept about 20 mins before a run.
I give her 1 packet of omep granules the day after usually to keep the "backlash" from the omep from causing trouble.
Those packets are a pain to buy honestly, and they are $3/day treatment dose, BUT they WORK. They come from out of country. USDA sent them the "you better stop" letter years ago stating there was 110% of the omep in the granules than was claimed. I read research in the vet books at work about "enteric coated granules" and the paste made by Merial being the only things proven to work. These are the only "enteric coated granules" that I know of on the market.
Good luck!
This is the only thing I have found to keep my mare on her feed and feeling good under stress.
Waned to add I feel like the SmartGut Ultra also plays a key role in how well she is doing right now. I tried the plain SmartGut and she was OK but not great. I wont take her off of it accept maybe go to the plain over the winter for cost reasons.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Has anyone tried Jailbreak paste from OxyGen?
My new mare has ulcers and the seller forgot to mention it so when I took her off her ulcer meds unknowingly and took her to a race we had a knock down drag out to get in the arena. I've done a week of UlcerGard, Formula 1, U7, and probiotics along with Renew Gold and free choice alfalfa/orchard grass. We have a race tomorrow to qualify for state, so I'm giving her a tube of Jailbreak. I'll let you all know how it goes. | |
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Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | merdth6 - 2015-08-19 2:55 PM We use Standlee Alfalfa cubes or pellets. The reason why we switch is because sometimes the store doesn't always have cubes. I also disagree about the alfalfa. We need to make sure our horses get enough calcium since the calcium to phosphorus ratio is inverted because we are feeding whole oats and flax seed. Maybe your right though and I'm expecting to much to happen too soon.
I understand on switching due to shortages. Standlee is a quality company. You can supplement with calcium vs feeding alfalfa though- for Ca/Phos ratio needs, I am sure you know. But I do think Alfalfa is great for ulcery horses.
Do you grind your flax fresh or feed it whole? Or is it milled already? Just curious. | |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | TurnLane - 2015-08-20 10:12 AM merdth6 - 2015-08-19 2:55 PM We use Standlee Alfalfa cubes or pellets. The reason why we switch is because sometimes the store doesn't always have cubes. I also disagree about the alfalfa. We need to make sure our horses get enough calcium since the calcium to phosphorus ratio is inverted because we are feeding whole oats and flax seed. Maybe your right though and I'm expecting to much to happen too soon. I understand on switching due to shortages. Standlee is a quality company. You can supplement with calcium vs feeding alfalfa though- for Ca/Phos ratio needs, I am sure you know. But I do think Alfalfa is great for ulcery horses.
Do you grind your flax fresh or feed it whole? Or is it milled already? Just curious.
We feed the flax seed whole | |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | http://www.kerx.com/products/RiteTrac/
Target's hindgut, made 2 of my horses completely new horses.... | |
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