Question

I have a horse that has been diagnosed with irritation or scar tissue in his intestinal tract. We have taken him off long-stemmed hay as it makes him colicky and have him on a completely pelleted diet. He seems to feel much better, but I don’t think he’s completely well. He receives moderate work and maintains his weight easily, and he’s in beautiful shape now. The vet's diagnosis was irritable bowel; however, he is still having bouts of not feeling well. I have done some research, and his symptoms are quite similar to leaky gut syndrome. He has elevated liver enzymes, and he is constantly hungry and wants to eat everything. I think what may have started this was his constant eating of acorns and oak leaves; he is now in a stall or drylot. Could EquiShure help him? Maybe EquiShure and RiteTrac?

Answer

You may want to consider the addition of EquiShure because of the history of this horse. It may promote a normalization of pH of the intestinal environment, which may encourage healing of the mucosal tissue. Colonic ulcers are not visible with a normal gastroscope, so it’s impossible to definitely say your horse has them. I don’t think that RiteTrac would be necessary if the horse has not been diagnosed with gastric ulcers. If EquiShure is going to help this horse, you should see a difference within three weeks of the start of supplementation.

One note of caution with feeding EquiShure: you don’t want to get EquiShure wet until right before or as it is fed. Moisture starts the clock on the time-release of the product.