Best ulcer prevention supplement?

[kwpn_01]

Hey all, I have dug through so many threads and have yet to find a solid answer (I know, I may never get one )

My mare has recently been diagnosed with moderate/severe glandular and hind gut ulcers (through scope). We currently have her on an 8-week course of Gastrogard with sucralfate (barn is managing when she is dosed as to not interfere with Gastrogard) and an additional 8 weeks of sucralfate.
We will re-scope to ensure that they are gone gone. I am located in Canada, so that impacts what supplements are available to me!

I am (hopefully) looking for a supplement that I can keep her on full-time post treatment in order to help keep them away. I do plan on giving her a full tube of Gastrogard during travel/show days. So far, I’ve done some research and have found the following:

• Currently have her on Visceral+, but as far as my research takes me, this does not help with the hind gut and is an all-natural formula.
• I’ve been recommended Succeed, which I’m not really convinced will help based on ingredients.
• Assureguard (Secureguard in Canada), has some natural ingredients but has a stomach buffer (vet isn’t convinced that stomach buffers really help) and reaches the hind gut.
• Neighlox Advanced seems to be the best fit as it has a buffer plus stomach coating ingredients, considering keeping her on this during show season. Seems to help both the stomach and hind gut but it is $$$.

Does anyone have any other recommendations or experience with any of the supplements mentioned? Again, looking at something that reaches both the stomach and the hind gut (and that I can purchase in Canada)! TIA.

EDIT: I thought it might be worth mentioning that she is on grass turnout (typically) 8-hours per day and on hay for the rest. She has a hay net to allow for slow constant feeding and is never usually without it. I think these ulcers were a result of being without quality hay from previous barn and show/travel nerves (previous trainer recommended compound omeprazole, which I’m not convinced does anything).

[JB]

@kwpn_01

My mare has recently been diagnosed with moderate/severe glandular and hind gut ulcers (through scope). We currently have her on an 8-week course of Gastrogard with sucralfate (barn is managing when she is dosed as to not interfere with Gastrogard) and an additional 8 weeks of sucralfate.

Omeprazole is not very good at helping glandular ulcers. It’s best for squamous (non-glandular, the upper unlined portion). You’ll definitely need to re-scope, and maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones.

Hind gut ulcers can’t be seen with a scope, you have to ultrasound to see if there are intestinal issues. Hind gut ulcers are really not common either, but dysfunction back there can be. Sucralfate will at least help coat any lesions that may be there

Glandular ulcers are typically not diet-related, which means supplements don’t do a lot to help prevent them (as much as any supplement could prevent ulcers of any kind). You need to try to figure out the cause. Glandular ulcers are more about stress/training/nsaids, external things, though prolonged periods of time, on a regular basis, without food in the stomach, could allow them to develop

Coating the stomach is a short-lived measure, it’s only working as long as it’s in there, which isn’t long, 20 minutes give or take

@kwpn_01

I think these ulcers were a result of being without quality hay from previous barn and show/travel nerves (previous trainer recommended compound omeprazole, which I’m not convinced does anything).

There you go You can’t supplement your way out of that. Keep her with forage at all times, if you can get alfalfa, offer 1-2lb of pellets or a small flake of hay right before you ride, to offer some level of buffering protection. If she’s munching on hay when you take her out then use alfalfa pellets, they’ll buffer the stomach acid faster than hay will, and her existing hay will be the mat in the stomach to reduce acid sloshing

[sammy14]

KER sucralox am and pm along with the gastroguard when needed. Corn oil as part of feed.
Misoprostol is reportedly the best thing for glandular ulcers if that’s an option.

Misoprostol is superior to combined omeprazole-sucralfate for the treatment...

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome: An Update on Current Knowledge

[JB]

@sammy14

Corn oil as part of feed.

The small study done on corn oil was not a good study, and really didn’t show that it helps ulcers

[sammy14]

Oh that’s interesting. I’ve seen it mentioned in a few places, perhaps based on only one study.
Also corn oil is not widely available where I am so I use other oil based on the general properties of oil delaying stomach emptying and coating. It does seem to help as part of an overall management plan.