Vidaloco said:
I read on another thread to give Pepto (the pink stuff) to a horse with ulcers. Not sure if thats proper and it may be more expensive in the long run than the Gastrogard.
Many things can bring ulcers on, but they are most-usualy treated with antibiotics. They are also linked to the lack of the mineral, Bizmuth(sp?) in the diet.
In other words, if ya get right-down to the bottom line, ulcers most-always result from the combination of a diet deffiency, coupled with a bacterial infection. That will hold true, be it a person, a cow or a horse. After all, the Good Lord made us all from the dirt and as a result, we all need certain minerals in our diet so's our systems can stay rebuilt and working properly. You may also note that while all mammals(and us) can store most vitamins, none of us have the ability to store un-used minerals...... So's, if we are to stay healthy, we got's to replenish them minerals on a daily basis.
Having said all that.....yeah, the "pink stuff" certainly helps because it contains the same mineral that has been lacking in the diet. Be aware though, that Pepto Bismol can/will cause constipation if too much is given and that aint a good thing neither. It may also have other side-effects to a horse that I'm not aware of.
You may find it interesting that many years ago, we'd give "calf-scouer(skow-wer) pellets" to cows that had what was known at the time as, "the scoures".
Well, it turns out that "the scouers" was/is nothing more than common ulcers. And them pellets were nothing more than a feed-pellet which contained an antibiotic that was combined with the same mineral-compound which is found in Peptobismol.
But that was many years ago and back then, most folks did most of their own doctoring.....and most feed stores would sell you whatever you needed to do it. That is no longer the case and besides.......I'm thinking that these days, there's better methods of treatment.
That's about as far as my knowlage of the subject goes.
I have no idea how much Peptobismol would be proper to give a horse. Nor do I known just what kind, or how much, antibiotic will be required to treat the horse in question. And besides that, horses and cows(and people) have much different digestive systems. So whatever cure it is that works on one, may not work so well on the other.
Twere it me, I'd follow my Vet's advice.
Bleeding ulcers aint nothing to fool-around with.
Hope this helps somewhat.
DGW