Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Gastric Ulcers

I'm not implying or suggesting anything, but was the endoscope used the type
with a video monitor, so that other people besides the operator could see
the size, type and severity of the ulcer?

Was just ruminanting last night about how ulcers can be caused by things
other than stress, concentrates, etc.

Susan G
----- Original Message -----
From: <kathy.mayeda@xxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 1:01 AM
Subject: [RC] Gastric Ulcers


> Just some ramblings before bedtime:
>
> 1) Gastroguard literature actually said:  "Exertion has
> been associated with ulcer development in both horses
> and humans.  Presumptive gastrointestinal bleeding
> resulting in fecal blood loss has been observed
> postexercise in 90% of human marathon runners.  This has
> not been reported for the horse."  The researcher at the
> ride actually stated that horses do not show fecal
> occult blood, but I heard of one horse case that blood
> did show up in fecal sample.
>
> 2) The package insert had the sentence "Horses enrolled
> in this study were healthy animals conformed to have
> gastric ulcers by gastrocopy." in both the Dose
> Confirmation and Clinical Field Trials.  Note the
> word "healthy"....ironic.
>
> 3) After I pulled for thumps at Wine Country, I was all
> hot and heavy to take Beau in a pen off of alfalfa and
> enter him in the Oakland Hills 60 in a few weeks.  I
> came to my senses and will not remove him from the
> pasture until I get a handle on the ulcer situation.
> The thumps problem could wait. The "no drug" rule is
> finally sinking into my brain and I will not compete
> with him while he's on Gastroguard.
>
> 4)  Ouch.  Gastroguard is extremely expensive. $54 a
> tube from the local vet - enough for a little over one
> dose when the protocal is for one dose a day for 30
> days, and 1/2 dose for a month or two after.  OUCH,
> OUCH, OUCH.  Gotta go shopping now - not going to pay
> that much.  They gave me enough Gastroguard for 2 more
> days.
>
> 5) Beau is bright eyed, happy and in "healthy".  I got
> him out of the pasture tonight to dose him, he pigged
> out big time on some Complete Advantage, and he galloped
> up the hill to his buddies after he gave me a smooch as
> I turned him back out.  He looks on surface like he
> could do a multiday just fine.
>
> 6) When people start talking about numbers - this is a
> reminder that they were still scoping during the banquet
> and they had offered to scope Sunday a.m. also.  They
> have plans to scope a lot more horses in the future.
> Whatever numbers that I quote now will probably be
> erroneous by the time the study gets published.  Also,
> the severity of the ulcers varied quite a bit.  Let's
> just say that Beau's case is probably one of the more
> severe ones, but already I see an improvement in his
> mood and appetite.  Darn those drug companies.  They
> know how to market.
>
> 7) Some other so-called ulcer remedies have high amounts
> of calcium.  When I start addressing the thumps issue,
> this will require a lot of attention to ingredient
> labels.  I have a tub of U-Gard in my garage that I
> considered giving to Beau with his electrolytes.  It is
> really meant to be top fed on grain for ulcer issues but
> I won't do it because of it's high calcium content.
>
> 8) I'm glad they found Ollie!  Thanks for posting that
> Jessica.  Great ride, too.  I spent some time at the
> barn tonight just raving about how much fun the trail
> was and one of my friends in particular will really
> enjoy those switchbacks.
>
> 9) Despite the diagnosis, I am so glad I participated in
> the ulcer study.  At least I am no longer wondering if
> he has an ulcer, and am actually relieved that there is
> a diagnosis so I don't worry myself silly over
> enteroliths, sand colic, parasite load, etc. etc. etc.
> That's not to say that he can't also have those issues,
> but at least I am taking care of a major issue that's
> defined.  All this for the price of a ride entry.
> Someone told me that a scope costs around $300.  And
> they gave me 4 tubes of Gastroguard.  Wow.  Thank you UC
> DAVIS!!!!  Take advantage of this study if it rolls
> around to a ride in your area.  It will only improve the
> quality of the data gathered, and it may improve the
> quality of your horses life.
>
> 10) Pasture:  I guess the researchers will have to
> revisit definition of pasture.  Pasture in the San Jose
> area means green grass for a few months of year and bare
> ground with some noxious weeds, scrubby dry vegetation
> or mud for the rest of the year.  During the summer
> months, feed is doled out twice a day, just as it's
> doled out to stalled horses.  They must be talking about
> Kentucky racehorses on year round bluegrass.
>
> 11)  100% of horses scoped that raced within one month
> had ulcers, and 90% of racehorses in training had ulcers!
> Wow.
>
> Bed time now folks.  Keep talking.
>
> K.
>
>
>
>
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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
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