Some Important facts about the Equine Digestive System:
Small Intestine is 70 ft. long - Large colon is 10-12 ft. long - Small colon is 10-12 ft. long - Cecum is 4 ft. long - Rectum is 1 ft. long
Photo is compliments of The British Horse Society. www.bhs.org.uk
Introduction
This is from my personal journal of my gelding, Jay, and the stages we went through, from beginning to current status with his Equine Ulcers. As I was writing, feelings surfaced when I saw everything that Jay endured, the lack of education I had about ulcers, the doubt, guilt, etc. But, I know in my heart, Jay was brought to me, to teach me. If I knew nothing else I know what lies in my heart, the connection I have with Jay and the willingness I will go for his health and happiness. Here is our story.....
History & Presentation (prior to when Jay and I found each other)
Jay- Thoroughbred. Gelding. Flea bitten Grey. 16h. 11 years. Off the track (4 years on track, 2 owners), 2 times a rescue horse. Rescue horse when I found him.
Found on overgrazed pasture. Underfed with small amounts of starchy grain fed and minimal hay. Vaccinated yearly. Chemical worming or no worming.
Middle of hierarchal status in herd. Teeth not floated for an estimated 6-10 yrs. Severe parrot mouth (under bite). Experienced mild colic’s. Separation anxiety. Very quiet, mild mannered disposition. Curious. Very Sensitive. Humorous.
Journal Log:
End of 2008- Beginning of 2009
Jay’s furst symptoms began while eating in a stall. What seemed at the time to be food aggressive behavior. Side bumping, kicking and circling stall, along with kicking at his stomach, ears back. Behavior was absent when in pasture or eating hay. Each time a behavior was presented, it seemed to point towards some other cause. Boarding in barns with non-natural practices was an additional challenge. Moving to different barns was needed. Pastured on a empty lot, feed alfalfa hay 2 tims a day. With compatible pasture mate.
Journal Log
Feb. to December 2009
The behaviors increased and continued. Kicking in the trailer started. He was taking longer to eat, walked away from his food and would return again. Wouldn’t finish his food at times. His dentals were current. Used as a Trail horse. The kicking in the trailer was thought to be due to nervousness.
I continued to seek answers. It was not until I came across other horse owners who had a horse with ulcers, that I was alerted that Jay probably had ulcers and the kicking in the trailer was probably due to Jay being in pain.
At first, I denied the possibility, but shortly after it hit me right in the gut like a ton of bricks. I began reading everything I could get my hands on about Equine Ulcers.
It quickly got overwhelming and confusing. Many options of products, therapies and testing to help with ulcers, with many claims, suggestions and promises.
The economy had taken a dive, I had lost customers in my work and finding additional work was next to impossible.
At this point, Jay was losing weight, fecal tests were negative, dentals were regular.
I finally found a product that was offered to many who had horses with ulcers. They often used it to confirm ulcers. Course, it was not an official diagnosis from a qualified Veternarian, but it was good enough for me. I had every confidence in where I had been led and took the positive result as a definite diagnoisis of Jay’s ulcers.
So, I began with small changes. Diet change. Moved him to a new barn, where he was on grass 24/7. Found several stomach soothers to help him during times his ulcer bothered him, until I could find something that healed it. Also started him on a probiotic. Offered free choice hay during winter season. Reduced stress at barn, best I could. Administered stomach soothers before trailering. I started to see some slight improvments, but there were still setbacks.
Journal Log
June 2010 to March 2011
Tried many natural methods to heal or assist with ulcer, suggested by several holistic practioners & veternarians. Tried several probiotics, bentonite clay, herbals, fruits & vegetables, cayenne pepper , minerals, some stress reduction (that I had control over), etc. No Improvements. Ulcer attacks would occur occasionally. Used stomach soothers to counter the pain. It helped the pain, but did not heal ulcer. Conventional & Holistic threapies or products wanted anywhere from 400-800/mo., for several months, for treatments. Was out of reach for me financially. I was tired, weary, and questioned if I should even continue. Should I find a new home for Jay? Who would possibly want an ulcer horse? Or even take on the care, treatment and expense of that? Should I put him down out of his misery? Even if I was able to come up with the expense for a treatment, what if it didn’t work?
Journal Log
March 2011 to Sept 2012
After much research I decided on a product that is similar to Gastro Guard. Omeprazole being the primary ingredient and repeatedly suggested as the most widely known solution to ‘heal’ ulcers. It was a 5 day plan.
Results after treatment: One improvement-manure looked healthier. Back to drawing board.
New Treatment!
Found Bioenergetic Balancing & Homeopathy
Did two rounds of treatments.
All ulcer symptoms stopped! Went one year without ulcer symptoms! After one year, started seeing some symptoms again. Did another homeopathic treamtnent in spring 2012. Symptoms subsided again thru the summer and into early fall.
Ulcer information suggests that equine ulcers are with your horse for their life They can heal, but they can also relapse within 72 hours.
Journal Log: Sept. 2012
It took lots of research, hunting and talking to many equine natural minded people, before I found products that best supported Jay and his ulcer from reoccurring. Continual adjustments to Jay’s natural health care program are ongoing. Currently considering chiropractor care, acupressure, along with a blood fecal test (Dr. Harman, DVM) for hidden ulcers, and utilizing essential oils and supplements to continue with an ulcer-free program, in addition to supportive products, diet, environmental & emotional considerations that have proven to work best for Jay.
Note: This article was published in Natural Horse Magazine Jan/Feb/March 2013. Volume 15 Issue 1. You can visit the published article on my "Articles" page. https://www.peacockpetcafe.com/articles
Jay - 2013
Expanded Notes:
Equine Ulcers and how I managed and maintained his ulcers from relapses, along with additional knowledge gained from 2012 till Jay passed in 12-20-22. There was no reason to believ it was his ulcers that caused his death. The vet diagnosed him, in simple terms, with a twisted gut. It was the first colic for him in many, many years.
I also had a medical intuitive do a reading on him, after his passing, to get their perspective on what caused his death. Something a vet would never find. Apparently Jay had been exposed to pasture that had been sprayed with chemicals. The pasture had not been used in years and did have horses on it at one time. For some reason, beyond my understanding, and is unusual for a horse farm to spray their pastures, but not impossible.
It was exposure to those chemicals, grazing on that pasture, that affected him and caused the colic and twisted gut. It was about 6 months later, after I had moved him to another barn that he had his fateful colic.
When I arrived at the barn, he had already been rolling for who knows how long.
It was his age and his other susceptiblities that made him more vulnerable to the chemicals.
Herbal Formula for Equine Ulcers
I had Jay (OTTB gelding) on a combination of herbs that were often recommended for equine ulcers.
Looking at many products that offered solutions to ulcers. Studying the ingredients in several products.
Studying many articles and what several people did to help with ulcers. Along with using my intuition, which can be
difficult during high emotional decisions, along with an overwhelming amount of information and anaylytical thinking.
I came up with a mixture of 5 Herbs that I bought from bulk herbs website. Quality and integrity of sources mattered and also researched the company and asked questions. Purchased organic as much as possible, but not always available and not always in the budget. I purchased each herb and then mixed together and fed to him mixed in with his hay pellets.
Along with grass 24/7 during grazing months and then access to hay 24/7 during winter months.
He was pastured with a buddy and they both access to shelter and pasture 24/7. Never confined him to a stall, excpet during feeding times.
He also was not chemical wormed, no vaccinations (nosodes instead), no chemical fly sprays, no chemicals used in barn or on pasture's (except the 2nd to last farm I had him at and was not aware of till after his passing)
I took into consideration his personality, his stressors, and his comforts to determine best environmental, social and emotional life for him. As well as understanding the basics of the equine digestive system. Horses are designed to move and eat throughout the day, taking time for pauses.
Here are the 6 Herbs I formulated:
Slippery Elm Bark Powder
Marshmallow Root
Milk Thistle
Dandelion
Pumpkin Seed Powder
One other ingredient that I was considering and saw it as important in many of the solutions I read about in my research.
L-glutamine - an important amino acid that is known to reduce inflammation and can offer repairing and support abilities to the digestive/Immue system.
I recognized in my research that it was used in horses on and off the track. It was one of those ingredients that was common in products for equine ulcers.
Conclusions
There are commonalities that can come to solutions for many horses with ulcers. But it is also important to look at the entire picture of how each horse is cared for.
Also take into consideration for a full picture of your horse:
History (if possible)
What your feeding
Chemical exposure
Vaccination records (past and present)
Chemical Wormers
Stressors and how to find solutions to reduce affects of those stressors
Digestive System health
Environmental, emotional and social exposures
Colic preventions
Probiotics/Prebiotics
Synthetic minerals/supplements
EMF exposure
Water - Note: High Iron content in water is a big culprit in depleting minerals and gut health. Access to water 24/7, especially during winter months.
Pasture health - microbiome of your pasture
By Diana Wanamaker
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If you would like further information, have questions or would like an in depth consultation to come up with the best plan for your horse, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of each page.
Can also contact me on my Facebook page: Peacock Pet Cafe.
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