Ash – Gastric Ulcers & Anxiety

A 10 year old Hanoverian, Thoroughbred gelding presented with glandular gastric ulceration, ongoing weight loss and anxiety. 

He was a very anxious horse, and when Massey University diagnosed the glandular gastric ulceration, the prognosis was a ‘fair resolution of clinical signs’. He was prescribed maintenance omeprazole and sucralfate if symptoms of gastric ulceration were expressed or stressful events were anticipated. 

Treatment Goals: To support the stomach ulceration, his stress/anxiety, gastrointestinal and immune health. 

Integrative Treatment Plan: A herbal tincture consistency of nervine/antianxiety, pain supportive, muco-protective and anti-inflammatory herbs was prescribed. Probiotics, antioxidant, essential fatty acids, Flower Essences and Equine Stress 

Control Therapy were implement. Simone also altered his diet in accordance with the veterinary nutritionists recommendations. 

Outcome: Ash responded positively to the integrative protocol, reducing his reliance on drugs and experiencing a lower level of anxiety. He gained weight and was a happier horse. 

Owners Feedback: 

Ash has had a complicated health history due to pyloric ulceration of the digestive tract and hind gut damage and gut fermentation imbalances due to stress (he didn’t cope with leaving his one and only home and is naturally a hyper-anxious character). He had previously been under Massey Uni Teaching Vet hospital care for a long time. Theirs was a medical protocol that was essential in helping Ash to initially heal, however, I felt that there must be a better way to manage his lifestyle (reducing stress) and diet in order to prevent recurrence of the Pyloric ulcers (horses become prone to these) and to help my bank account balance! given that the cost of daily doses of omeprazole and sucralfate in horse size doses costs an excruciating amount. I found a vet in the USA who specialised in ulceration protocols using both medications and diet/lifestyle. As it was more practical to work with a local holistic vet I thought I would work with Jacqui whom had already successfully treated our cat so I combined working with both vets and recommended protocols. Jacqui’s supportive advice, research, caring and collaborative approach has been integral in turning Ash’s health around and he has turned a corner. I will continue to work with Jacqui in the future and look forwards to seeing her practice grow and develop as word gets out about how fantastic she is.

Simone van der Plas - August 2021