Ridecamp: [RC] Ulcer Research at Wine Country Rides

FROM   Roger Rittenhouse     roger@xxxxxxxxxxx
I have experience on this one - so here are some comments

There are other very good products to manage the levels of stomach acid
 - I believe far better then a drug which prevents the production of
same. Called photon inhibitor.
One of my problems with resolving the problems with Omni, was to
first get him scoped. That proved he had no ulcers, and also none of the
alleged problems related to 'daily wormers'

Now I had to figure out how to control 'acid' issues in the gut - when
he failed to eat well during travel and at a ride.

I chose to use a oral acid neutralizer product. At the time there was
one from KER NEIGH-LOX. Its cost a bit, but not the same as
Gastroguard AND most important it is NOT a DRUG, its is a horse
anti-acid.. ie Malox.

It appeared to work well. Once he figured out  he needed to eat, there
was no need to give it to him, since the natural digestion process
was doing its job.

One problem I really had - and asked the experts (vets)  What happens
if and when he starts to eat normal and the drug is in his system?
How will he produce enough 'acid' to digest the normal quality of feed.

The horse produces a constant given level of acid all the time, since
he is suppose to eat most of the time - graze. So I had to reason it
was not good to shut down the process, IF there were NO ulcers.
What was I going to fix or prevent??

What I need to control was the acid levels during time of travel and
less food intake and let the system function normal when he ate well.

The scoping and other tests indicted no internal problems nor excess
production of acid. SO WHY go on this drug.

The use of oral acid control product worked well. He did not get an
over acid load when he failed to eat well, then when hungry his guts
were not inflamed from the acid, so he wanted to eat and fill-up.

He eventually learned - just chowing down all the time was much better
then the alternative.
I do not use any acid management product as long as he eats well
traveling to a ride  and at the ride.

There are other products OTC from Jeffers etall that will work well
for this purpose.

Now IF your horse really does have ulcers, then he has to STOP
competing until well... DUH?  Sure, you MAY have to put him on a drug to
help the healing process, but some of the OTC products may work OK.
BUT he should not be doing rides...

The scoping offered at this ride is GREAT. It should show almost NONE
of the horses doing endurance have ulcers. I will take that bet.

Why? we USE them ,work them, rest them, feed them, well and ALL the time.
Very few endurance horses are stuck in a box 24/7.

Roger Rittenhouse

 Mike Sofen wrote

RD> Ulcer Research at Wine Country Rides
RD> 
RD> 
RD> I would guess the distributors or makers of Gastrogard are paying for it -
RD> they're giving away a free sample (that's a $35 tube at retail).  They
RD> charge about $32/tube in their 28 day treatment pack (about $900) which is
RD> what is required to heal most ulcers, so they have a rather large vested
RD> interest in expanding the scope of their markets in any direction.
RD> 
RD> However, it doesn't minimize the usefulness of the 'scoping - knowing for
RD> certain that your horse does or doesn't have an ulcer would be great
RD> knowledge to have and much cheaper than hauling your vet out.
RD> 
RD> I am investigating an alternative to Gastrogard and will report back with
RD> details in a few days.
RD> 
RD> Mike Sofen
















Roger Rittenhouse



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