Few supplement companies can claim their products are backed by peer-reviewed research; SmartPak Equine is one of them. In a university-led study, researchers found that SmartPak’s SmartGut Ultra supported stomach health in horses after omeprazole was used to treat nonglandular gastric ulcers—the most common ulcer type, which occur in the squamous region of the stomach. The effectiveness of omeprazole, marketed as GastroGard, for treating gastric ulcers is well-documented.
Study horses received omeprazole for 14 days to start with a healthy stomach, then faced stress from stall confinement and rebound acid production after stopping omeprazole. Adding SmartGut Ultra to the feed helped prevent the worsening of nonglandular ulcers two weeks after stopping omeprazole and reduced the increase in gastric ulcer scores after intermittent feeding, without altering the horses’ gastric juice pH.
SmartGut Ultra contains GastrAvert®, a proprietary blend of sea buckthorn, glutamine, aloe vera, pectin, and lecithin to support stomach health and tissue healing. It also includes calcium and magnesium carbonate to help maintain normal stomach pH; marshmallow, licorice, and slippery elm to help soothe compromised digestive tract tissues; and amino acids such as glutamine to provide energy to cells and support cellular recovery.
SmartPak recognizes the value of using omeprazole and SmartGut Ultra in concert to help deter painful gastric ulcers in horses. It has partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim to offer a gastric support package at the convention. Visit SmartPak’s booth (#427) to enter and win these gastric support packs to share with your clients!
