Horse health care is one thing. Caring for a horse who has a history
of ulcers is something else altogether. Owners of horses who have had
ulcers in the past are super-sensitive to any signs of possible new
ulcers forming, whether it be a horse leaving his feed or experiencing
a mild colic.
These owners all want to know: "What should I do if I think my horse
is possibly developing another ulcer?"
Luckily, the answer is simple and cost-effective:
Prevention
Treating Possible Horse Ulcers with Prevention
Once a horse has fully recovered from an ulcer, the best way to
prevent the formation of new ulcers is to put him on a nutritional
maintenance program that will keep him healthy.
The simplest and most effective nutritional supplement I have found to
keep ulcer-prone horses healthy is the Essentials from Simplexity
Health. The Essentials are convenient daily packs of supplements that
include:
- 2 forms of blue-green algae (with and without the cell wall)
- acidophilus
- bifidus
- enzymes
When fed on a daily basis, this balanced mix of supplements keeps a
horse's gut healthy. The probiotics (acidophilus and bifidus) keep the
population of "good bacteria," or gut flora, in the horse's small and
large intestines flourishing. This is important because healthy gut
flora prevents foreign invaders from taking over and causing ulcers.
Probiotics also play a big role in healthy digestion.
The enzymes also play a crucial role in digestion, especially for
horses who have trouble assimilating nutrients or have inherently poor
digestion. Finally, the two forms of blue-green algae provide a
nutrient-dense supply of vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals. These
nutrients help to heal horse ulcers as soon as they start to form.
In short, the Essentials provide your horse's body with everything it
needs to maintain a healthy gut, and repair any ulcers that may begin
to form. For maintenance, I recommend 1-2 packets of Simplexity
Essentials daily, depending on the horse's temperament.
Preventing Horse Ulcers When a Horse is Stressed
Feeding the Simplexity Essentials is an excellent way to prevent horse
ulcers when a horse is in his normal routine. However, if a horse with
a history of ulcers is going to be stressed, I recommend feeding
additional supplements to prevent the formation of new ulcers.
Horses can be stressed by any number of factors, including travel,
horse shows, heavy training, a new environment, or an abrupt change in
weather. As a horse owner, you know best which factors stress your
horse. If you know that you horse is going to be stressed, you can
prevent him from developing new ulcers by supplementing his feed with
ulcer-preventive substances beforehand.
For instance, if you know that your horse is stressed by long trips,
in addition to feeding the Essentials, you might add green clay,
Stomach Soother, SUCCEED, or KLPP and UF to his diet a day or two
before you leave. The key is to feed him whatever nutritional
supplement helped him heal from his original ulcer.
Depending on what kind of ulcers your horse is prone to, the
supplement of choice could range from slippery elm and aloe to green
clay or Stomach Soother. Not all horse ulcers are the same, so they
can't all be treated the same way. Learn more about the different
kinds of ulcers and ulcer treatments here:
4 Kinds of Horse Ulcers
Treating Different Types of Horse Ulcers
Because you know your horse best, you know which kinds of ulcers he is
most prone to and what supplements work best for him. Keep these
supplements on hand to feed before you stress him, or at the first
sign of a newly developing ulcer. If, for example, your horse has a
mild colic because of a weather change, and he responds well to
Stomach Soother, add that to his diet for a few days until his
symptoms subside. When paired with the Essentials, the Stomach Soother
will prevent the formation of new ulcers ... and save you a big vet
bill in the process.
Prevention Really is the Best Medicine
I've compared case studies of horse ulcers treated with conventional
medicine and holistic care. Over and over again, I see that the horses
who are treated with holistic care, which focuses on a solid
nutritional program and preventative care, are not only happier and
healthier over all, but cost their owners less money in the long run.
A solid nutritional program that is designed specifically for your
horse's nutritional and temperamental needs is definitely a form of
prevention against horse ulcers and all kinds of other acute and
chronic health conditions. While the ongoing monthly costs of this
kind of program may seem a bit higher than a "no frills grass hay"
diet, ultimately a nutritional program like this will save you money
and heartache.
++++ Order Essentials and Ulcer Supplements Online ++++
We are proud to be a one-stop online shop for horse owners interested
in holistic care. If you have an ulcer-prone horse, we invite you to
visit these sections of our online store, designed with your horse in
mind:
Digestive Supplements
Simplexity Health Essentials and More
About the Author
Madalyn Ward, DVM, owns Bear Creek Veterinary Clinic in Austin, Texas. She is certified in Veterinary Homeopathy and Equine Osteopathy. Memberships include American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinay Medical Association and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. She has authored several books and publishes the monthly newsletter, “Holistic Horsekeeping.”
Contact
Madalyn Ward DVM
11608 FM 1826
Austin, TX 78737
303-575-1170
www.holistichorsekeeping.com
www.horseharmony.com
www.horseharmonytest.com
www.yourhorsebook.com
Back to Articles |
