GASTRIC SUPPLEMENTS FOR HORSES

THE IMPORTANCE OF GASTRIC HEALTH IN HORSES

The horse has evolved as a "trickle" feeder, constantly grazing, and continuously secreting gastric acid. Saliva buffers this stomach acid but is only produced in response to chewing. Horses are prone to stress-induced changes to their gastric (stomach) health, in particular the development of gastric ulcers. This can lead to difficulty maintaining weight or even weight loss, as ulcers may affect your horse's ability to digest food and their appetite may be reduced. Ulcers also cause pain which may lead to a wide range of behavioural changes as well as loss of performance. Careful feeding and management changes to reduce stress can help maintain your horse's gastric health.

WHEN TO ADD A GASTRIC SUPPLEMENT TO YOUR HORSE'S DIET

A gastric supplement may be useful at times when your horse is needing extra help to support gastric health, or is likely to experience stress. This could be due to:

• intense training and competition
• increasing exercise levels, such as a young horse coming into training or a horse coming back into work at the start of the season
• changes in routine such as moving yards, rank conflicts within herds, and changes in daily feed or exercise routine
• during illness or injury, especially if on box rest or needing hospitalisation
• travelling, especially long journeys
• weaning foals
• changes in diet or feeding high levels of concentrates
• horses diagnosed with gastric ulcers
• horses prone to colic

HOW DOES A GASTRIC SUPPLEMENT SUPPORT HORSES?

Gastric supplements based on natural fruit and vegetable fibres can help support the natural protective mucus barrier in the stomach, as well as helping to maintain optimal stomach acid levels. Natural fibres may have a prebiotic effect by providing a food source for 'good' bacteria in the gut.

APOLECTOL FOR HORSES

Apolectol is a unique patented fruit and vegetable fibre-based pectin- glycerol-lecithin complex. Apolectol helps stabilise the protective mucus layer in the stomach and maintain a healthy gastric acidity.