Question

My Arabian mare is being treated with prescription-strength omeprazole for moderate to severe gastric ulcers. My veterinarian has encouraged me to use RiteTrac after the omeprazole protocol to help keep her stomach healthy. When should I start the RiteTrac?

Answer

Your mare is benefiting from sound veterinary advice, and your question about when to start daily supplemental support of the stomach is a relevant one.

You can begin feeding RiteTrac at any time, though sooner is probably better than later. Giving RiteTrac to your mare while she’s also being treated with omeprazole will not affect the effectiveness of either product. By choosing to acclimate the gastric environment with RiteTrac prior to removing her from omeprazole, you are allowing no window for ulcers to again achieve a foothold.

Horse owners is Australia should look to Kentucky Equine Research for research-proven products to support stomach health.

In addition to RiteTrac, it is best to implement management changes that will help the health of the stomach, including the provision of near-constant forage, whether it is pasture or hay. While alfalfa (lucerne) has been shown to have a positive buffering effect, not all horses can be managed on the same forage. For example, horses prone to obesity or metabolic issues should be maintained on mid-quality forage with controlled sugar intake. On the flip side, lean horses can be fed higher quality forage in larger quantities.