[bucksnort]

Also - until the ulcers are healed, he will continue to lose blood and be anemic/low protein levels. This is also why there was blood in his manure. Trying to get his blood levels back up without working on healing the ulcers is pretty useless as he will continue to bleed out of the ulcers.

It's very possible that your vet is not familiar with ulcers in the colon. I had a few vets out and they missed it in my horse as well. That is why I ended up doing so much research on my own and then got lucky with seeing an internal specialist, who confirmed all my suspicions. Please do so research and encourage your vet to do so also. The horse is not going to get better until his hind gut is sorted out. We also treated with pysllium, sucralfate and Equishure on top of the short fibre diet. Good luck. Send me a message if you want any more info. This has been my life for the last 6 months. I live and breathe this every day. It is curable but only when you take the correct steps to start healing the colon.

[katiehorse]

Bucksnort, thank you again. Vet did prescribe iron and SmartGut Ultra. I've always rinsed his alfalfa mix, now I'm wetting down the grass, too, to soften the fibers. Owner is not crazy about soaked alfalfa cubes so will continue with current feeding regimen.

[katiehorse]

My friend called the vet, they thought it was ulcers based on finding fecal blood and anemia on the blood draw. Horse got worse even on UlcerGuard and Gadtric Guard. Another vet called for second opinion. A tumor was found on rectal palpitation. She had him PTS.

I've done some reading on my own and I'm guessing it was an adenocarcinoma. No necropsy was done though, so that is just my best estimate.

I am posting this update not to scare anyone--I just want to put it out there for information's sake. If the first vet had done a more thorough exam, my friend would have saved big $$$ and saved her horse from discomfort.

[alto]

My friend called the vet, they thought it was ulcers based on finding fecal blood and anemia on the blood draw. Horse got worse even on UlcerGuard and Gadtric Guard. Another vet called for second opinion. A tumor was found on rectal palpitation. She had him PTS.

I've done some reading on my own and I'm guessing it was an adenocarcinoma. No necropsy was done though, so that is just my best estimate.

I am posting this update not to scare anyone--I just want to put it out there for information's sake. If the first vet had done a more thorough exam, my friend would have saved big $$$ and saved her horse from discomfort.

I'm sorry to hear this {{Hugs}}

Don't be too hard on the vet or feel the If Only too keenly, it's quite possible that the tumour was not really notable at the early exam.

[katiehorse]

Alto, thank you. First vet did not do rectal palpitation. I guess I would encourage the exam should I have a horse that presents similar symptoms. It was a relief to finally find out what was giving him trouble for so long.

[sdlbredfan]

I am so sorry, condolences to you and your friend.

Bucksnort, just in case this would be uesful for anyone to know, when you mentioned short fiber, would the TnT chopped hay, or the Triple Crown chopped forage be suitable for that also?