When Carter Stopped Eating

Owner's Gut Feeling Led to Game-Changing Outcome

AMY YOUNG

DAVIS, CALIFORNIA

UC Davis Registered Veterinary Technician Harmony Lindberg’s red mare, Carter, went from happy trail horse to gastric ulcer patient, and back again thanks to her owner’s own gut instinct.

A Sudden Change

Harmony Lindberg describes her chestnut Thoroughbred mare, Carter, as a “food fiend”. So, when Carter suddenly lost interest in her hay one day, she knew something was wrong. “It was such an abrupt change,” she recalled. “It was very out of character.”

Lindberg wasn’t looking for a horse when she crossed paths with Carter (formerly known as Twisted Ginger in her racing days). Her father had befriended a former owner of famous racehorse California Crome, who happened to be looking for a home for the mare.

“I really love red mares,” said Lindberg. “She is super cute, and I fell for her.”

After a year off to adjust to her new life, Carter began six months of training. She quickly turned into a great trail horse and even dabbled in some dressage.

However, one day last winter Carter suddenly stopped eating.

Uncovering the Issue

Lindberg quickly thought through the potential causes for this unexpected development.

“Her gut sounds were normal, and she was passing manure,” said Lindberg. “She wasn’t kicking at her belly or trying to roll. It was winter, and it was cold, so I initially thought her behavior might have to do with the weather. But something just didn’t feel right.”

Lindberg brought Carter to the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Large Animal Clinic for assessment, where equine internal medicine specialist Dr. Rana Bozorgmanesh performed a full workup, including a gastroscopy (a procedure that uses a small camera to examine the horse’s stomach). The results clearly showed that Carter had severe gastric ulcers.

“Carter’s story is not uncommon for horses with gastric ulcers,” said Bozorgmanesh. “Their clinical signs are often variable and non-specific. This is why gastroscopy is vital for diagnosis.”

Treatment and Recovery

Carter’s initial treatment included omeprazole (GastroGard®), sucralfate, and misoprostol, although the latter had to be discontinued since it caused inappetence (which is occasionally reported in some horses). After five weeks of treatment, a second gastroscopy showed significant healing, but the ulcers were not completely gone. Carter continued omeprazole for another few weeks, for a total of about two months.

“Carter’s been clear ever since and is definitely a happier horse,” said Lindberg. “She’s much more eager to work.”

Prevention is Key

Lindberg works hard to maintain Carter’s ulcer-free status. She’s never turned out alone; she’s always with another horse. Her diet contains some alfalfa, and she gets an alfalfa treat before a ride or when trailering. 

“Harmony’s commitment to making the recommended management and lifestyle changes has been the cornerstone in preventing the recurrence of Carter’s ulcers,” said Bozorgmanesh. “Without these changes, gastric ulcers typically will recur in the majority of horses.”

Gastroscopy's Essential Role

Lindberg says that pursuing gastroscopy was essential in Carter’s case.

“I was pretty sure that it was an ulcer,” she said. “But there was no way for me to know how bad they were without the scope.”

She also reflected that without the procedure she would not have known when to stop treatment. Since Carter needed some extra time on the medications, stopping too soon could have meant a painful, and expensive, setback.

“I think people are sometimes scared of the perceived invasiveness of gastroscopy,” reflected Lindberg. “I honestly felt like it was not as big of a deal as I thought. It’s safe, straightforward, and you get the results right away. I don’t think I’ll ever not scope a horse again.”   

Happy Trails

Today, Carter is thriving. She’s back on the trail, spending time with her herd, and enjoying her role as the family horse Lindberg hoped for.

However, Lindberg remains vigilant about Carter’s diet and stress levels.

“I’m terrified the ulcers will come back,” she admitted. “But I know there are so many good things I can do to keep her comfortable.”

Lindberg hopes her ordeal provides some guidance for other horse owners navigating similar challenges.

“Trust your gut and find what works for your horse,” she advised. “If you know your horse’s routine and behavior, you will be the first to notice when something is off. Don’t ignore that feeling.”   ∆

AMY YOUNG

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS