Ulcers/ Weight gain

Onefasthorse what do you think of nutrena? I like the fact that the prices are reasonable and they have "controlled starch" as well as added prebiotics and probiotics. I was looking at the safechoice or the "boost" rice bran. What are your thoughts?

Since you didn't ask me ill answer anyway
Be careful with the normal Safe Choice. It still has 22% NSC. The safe choice special care is low, 15%, so would be the better choice. But for weight gain you would have to feed a lot. Or add some kind of oil, since it's low calorie.
Can you get Omegatin? It's flax(for the omega fatty acids) and ricebran, and is fed in smaller amounts, a cup a day.

Thank you deserthorsewoman I appreciate your answer lol I haven't seen omegatin however I have him on cocosoya oil and U-gard. Equipride as well....which he hates but it is included here at the barn. We have mannapro rice bran as well. What if I keep him on the cocosoya oil, u-gard, equipride, beet pulp and get some alfalfa cubes or pellets? Then can I cut out grain all together? Wow this is incredibly complicated lol....I need all the help I can get my other horse didn't even need grain lol. Thank you

Ricebran, like I said, get the granules, they mix better and are much cheaper, alfalfa pellets to soak, pellets soak faster than cubes, cocosoya I heard only good things, but haven't tried myself. Do you have a Tractor Supply near? If so, they carry the Omegatin, but also the Omega Horseshine, which I personally prefer over the Omegatin. No need to double up on the ricebran either. Then add a vit/min supplement and you're good to go. Grain free and low in sugars

Rice bran powder is a pain to feed. I know from experience. Its hard to get them to eat enough in the powder form. Mine wouldn't touch it.

Safe Choice is about 15% NSC. If it were me, I'd go lower than that while healing the ulcers. I have already stated what *I* would put the horse on and that is:

1-2lb Purina Enrich 32 (since that's the brand you can get easily)
2-3 lbs alfalfa pellets
Ranitidine
Free choice hay

If you need more calories, then add more alf pellets and/or rice bran pellets or beet pulp.

I have used cocosoya oil for years, but at this point I would stay away from oils bc of the ulcers. If you use a low NSC RB, then there is no need to supplement with extra min/vit supplement. It will take some time on your part, but the ulcers will heal if you follow protocol. It takes 2-3 months of controlled diet and ranitidine treatment (zantac) to heal them up.

Per manufacturer, Safe Choice is 22.8% NSC, Safe Choice Special Care is 15% NSC.

I also never had a problem with rice bran granules in soaked alfalfa. But, ricebran also is around 20% NSC, so the alfalfa is the better choice for gain.
As per your friend Sarah on another thread, treating stomach ulcers with meds, " just in case" could backfire and create hind gut ulcers.
IMO, once treated, prevention is key. Free choice hay, no grain , low NSC and alfalfa as buffer for the acids will be enough. No U-gard needed then.

Lots of good info! So basically anything under 15% starch is ok? What about equipride it's a supplement for digestion is that high in starch. Thank so much you guys! This is very very helpful I don't wan't to overdue it on anything and give him more troubles.

Yeah. To calculate: lbs of hay x NSC +lbs of additives x NSC : lbs all together = total NSC
Grass hay: 13.8% NSC, grain hays: 22% NSC, alfalfa: 9.3% NSC
The other stuff I posted already, the Omega Horseshine is 4.4% NSC, has yeast for digestion, is anti- inflammatory, helps with skin issues(allergies) and puts one heck of a shine on. AND provides a heap of calories.