How to Support the GI Tract in Horses After Ulcer Treatment

How to Support the GI Tract in Horses After Treatment for Ulcers

Treating gastric ulcers is only part of the picture. Once a horse has finished a course of ulcer treatment, the next step is supporting the gastrointestinal tract so healing can continue and the risk of recurrence is reduced.

This is important because ulcers can come back, especially if the horse returns straight to the same feeding and management routine that contributed to the problem in the first place. Ongoing support usually means looking at the whole horse: forage intake, meal size, starch levels, turnout, stress, workload, and in some cases, the use of well-chosen digestive supplements. Recurrence after omeprazole withdrawal is a recognised issue, so the post-treatment period matters just as much as the treatment phase itself. 

Start with the basics first

Before looking at supplements, it is worth remembering that no product can outdo poor management.

Horses recovering from ulcers do best when they have plenty of roughage in the diet, minimal time standing without feed, and a ration that is lower in starch and large grain meals. Feeding lucerne can be helpful in some horses because it has a buffering effect in the stomach, and offering a small amount before exercise may help protect the stomach from acid splash. Current guidance also supports a forage-first approach, avoiding long fasting periods and reducing dietary starch where possible.

For many horses, that means:

• ad lib or near-ad-lib forage (at least 1.5% to 2% of hay/pasture per kg of bodyweight per day)

• no long gaps without hay or pasture

• smaller, more frequent meals

• less grain and starch where suitable

• careful management around work, travel, and stabling stress. 

These simple changes are often the foundation of long-term success.

Why support the GI tract after treatment?

Ulcers do not just affect the stomach lining in the moment. Horses coming out of treatment may still need support while the stomach settles, normal appetite returns, and the broader digestive system rebalances.

The aim post-treatment is usually to:

• support the stomach lining

• buffer excess acidity where appropriate

• encourage more stable hindgut function

• reduce the impact of stress, training, transport, or confinement

• help prevent ulcers from returning. 

It is also worth noting that not every supplement marketed for ulcers has strong evidence behind it. Some ingredients are widely used because they make nutritional sense or are popular with owners, while others have more direct research behind them.

Products with stronger science behind them

Kelato GastroAID Recovery

One of the better-known products in this space is Kelato GastroAID Recovery, and it stands out because it is linked to published research on recurrence of equine gastric ulcer syndrome after omeprazole withdrawal. In a blinded, randomised clinical trial involving Thoroughbred racehorses, use of a nutraceutical supplement during the withholding period was associated with a lower post-withholding prevalence of equine squamous gastric disease than baseline. Kelato states that GastroAID Recovery was the supplement used in that research and recommends introducing it at least 7 days before stopping ulcer medication. 

GastroAID Recovery contains pectin and lecithin, along with buffering agents, yeast probiotic, prebiotic ingredients, lucerne meal and oat flour. The idea is to combine stomach-lining support with broader digestive support, rather than focusing on just one mechanism. Kelato also positions it specifically for horses with EGUS, horses recovering from EGUS, and horses under stress. 

For owners wanting a product with one of the clearer research links in the post-treatment space, this is often the standout option.

Popular digestive support products 

Outside the products with the strongest direct research, there are several popular digestive support options commonly used after ulcer treatment. These are usually selected to complement management changes, not replace them.

CEN Ulcer Protect

CEN Ulcer Protect is marketed as a natural ulcer supplement designed to help reduce, heal and protect the stomach from ulcer incidence. It appeals to owners looking for a non-pharmaceutical support product, particularly during ongoing management. While it is a popular category choice, its product claims should be viewed differently from published clinical trial evidence. 

Ulcer Eze

Ulcer Eze is described as a natural inactivated probiotic feed ingredient to help maintain gastric health in intensively managed horses at risk of ulcers. Products like this are often chosen when owners want ongoing digestive maintenance support for horses in work, travelling regularly, or spending more time stabled.

Stance UlcaBuf

Stance UlcaBuf is positioned as a long-term digestive support supplement for both the stomach and hindgut. It includes prebiotic and probiotic support and is marketed for use during stress periods or as a maintenance option. This kind of product can be attractive where the goal is to support the whole digestive tract rather than focusing only on the stomach. 

KER Triacton and Equi-Jewel

For horses that also need help maintaining condition or supporting a low-starch feeding plan, products such as KER Triacton and KER Equi-Jewel may come into the conversation. Triacton is marketed as supporting digestive health and buffering capacity, while Equi-Jewel is a high-fat, low-starch conditioning supplement that includes a digestive buffering component. These are not ulcer treatments, but they may suit horses needing calories or condition support without relying on higher-starch feeds. 

A note on pectin, lecithin and antacids

Pectin and lecithin are very commonly included in ulcer-support supplements, and there is good reason they remain popular. They are used to help support the stomach lining and barrier function. However, the wider research picture is mixed, and they should not be thought of as a direct replacement for proven veterinary treatment. Likewise, antacids can sound appealing, but standard antacids have not been proven especially effective for healing or preventing gastric ulcers unless used in large and frequent amounts. 

That is why the best use of these ingredients is usually as part of a bigger management plan, especially after treatment.

Feeding after treatment matters just as much as supplements

For many ulcer-prone horses, the real long-term difference comes from adjusting the base diet.

The general feeding advice for ulcer-prone horses is to make sure roughage intake is high enough, avoid long periods without forage, use lucerne where appropriate, and reduce grain and starch where possible. Low-starch and grain-free feeds can be useful where extra calories are still needed, and adding calories via oil, beet pulp or copra may be preferable to simply increasing grain. 

In practice, the horses that do best after ulcers are often the ones whose feeding and management have been made more “horse-like” again: more fibre, more chewing time, less empty stomach time, and fewer sharp diet changes.

The takeaway

After ulcer treatment, GI support should focus on both healing and prevention. Start with the basics: forage, lower starch, smaller meals, turnout where possible, and reduced stress. Then, if needed, add a supplement that matches the horse’s situation.

For owners wanting a product with a stronger research connection in the post-treatment period, Kelato GastroAID Recovery is one of the clearest options currently available, particularly around the transition off omeprazole. Other popular digestive support products such as CEN Ulcer Protect, Ulcer Eze, Stance UlcaBuf, and selected low-starch conditioning products can also play a role, depending on the horse and the broader feeding plan. 

As always, it is best to work with your vet when managing a horse after ulcers, especially if signs return, appetite drops off again, or the horse has ongoing performance or behaviour changes.