Veterinarians often get questions from clients about the safety and benefits of using certain medications and supplements simultaneously. These two types of products serve distinct purposes, and while some supplements can have adverse interactions with certain medications, others can benefit equine patients by providing additional support.
SUCCEED is a nutritional supplement that can benefit horses on several medications. While this supplement is often used for digestive support in horses during and after treatment for GI problems, SUCCEED can also help support gut health in horses on medications for unrelated conditions.
Keep reading to learn more about SUCCEED and the use of this supplement alongside common medications.
What is SUCCEED?
SUCCEED Digestive Conditioning Program is a once-daily feed supplement formulated to support the health of the entire equine gastrointestinal tract. Unlike medications, supplements are not used to treat disease. Instead, supplements act as functional feed additives that support the horse’s ongoing health and well-being.
All of the ingredients in SUCCEED Digestive Conditioning Program are nutritional and should not conflict with other supplements or medications. These ingredients include:
- Oat Oil: Polar lipids from oat oil help strengthen the intestinal lining and optimize nutrient absorption while strengthening the intestinal mucosa.
- Oat Flour: Beta-glucans from oat flour help heal damaged tissue in the hindgut, slow the transit of digesta through the GI tract, and moderate the release of sugar from the digestive system.
- Yeast Products: Nucleotides and mannan oligosaccharides from yeast products support intestinal recovery and promote a balanced gut microbiota by encouraging the growth of beneficial microbes.
- L-Glutamine: Deficits in this amino acid caused by stress can contribute to diarrhea, villous atrophy, mucosal ulceration, increased intestinal permeability, and necrosis.
- L-Threonine: This amino acid supports GI tract function by promoting gut wall regeneration and mucus production.
Using SUCCEED Alongside Common Medications
SUCCEED can be given simultaneously with common medications to help support the GI tract when it may be subject to side effects. Ongoing supplementation can also benefit horses with a history of digestive problems to support gut health after treatment.
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, are the most common medication for treating gastric ulcers in horses. These treatments block acid secretion to allow the stomach to heal, but the GI tract lining can only recover if the horse gets the nutrients they need to support tissue regeneration.
SUCCEED is safe to use alongside proton pump inhibitors to support the regeneration of the intestinal lining. Many practitioners recommend that their clients administer PPIs first thing in the morning before feeding the daily ration and SUCCEED. After your client’s horse finishes a PPI treatment course, daily support from SUCCEED can help maintain GI tract integrity.
One study comparing the effects of SUCCEED and omeprazole found both resulted in significant reductions in squamous ulceration in horses. (Kerbyson et al., 2016) However, long-term use of PPIs can alter microbiota populations due to pH changes, so additional hindgut support is often recommended.
Sucralfate
Sucralfate is a medication used to treat stomach and hindgut ulcers in horses that works by coating the gastrointestinal tract. While proton pump inhibitors are ineffective at treating hindgut problems, sucralfate addresses the entire digestive system.
Research suggests sucralfate may reduce the absorption of other supplements and medications. (Bishop et al., 2021) To get the most benefit from additional support with SUCCEED, we recommend feeding SUCCEED before sucralfate to maximize absorption.
Unlike sucralfate, SUCCEED does not interfere with the absorption of other nutrients and medications.
Steroids
Corticosteroids are often prescribed to treat inflammation and ease symptoms associated with allergic reactions in horses. However, these medications are also associated with an increased risk of gastric ulcers and digestive upset. (Cuming et al., 2016)
These drugs can also interact with other medications. However, it is safe to use SUCCEED alongside steroid therapy. Administering SUCCEED to horses undergoing treatment with steroids can help support gastrointestinal health and minimize the risk of digestive side effects.
Antibiotics
Strategic use of targeted antibiotics can be an effective treatment option for certain infections in horses. However, these drugs can also diminish bacterial diversity in the equine gastrointestinal tract and contribute to dysbiosis. As a result, many practitioners recommend nutritional supplements to support a balanced microbiome during treatment. (Arnold et al., 2021)
While some research suggests probiotics may be beneficial for horses on antibiotic therapy, these drugs can interfere with the viability of live bacteria provided by the probiotics when fed simultaneously. Therefore, prebiotic support with SUCCEED may be a better option for horses undergoing antibiotic treatment.
NSAIDs
NSAIDs are commonly used in horses to manage inflammatory conditions. However, these medications are notorious for contributing to significant gastrointestinal problems with excessive or prolonged use.
Right dorsal colitis has been observed in horses receiving recommended courses of NSAIDs for less than a week. NSAID toxicosis impairs the ability of the intestinal and gastric mucosa to turnover and repair. (Kerbyson et al., 2016)
Horses on NSAIDs should receive careful dietary management to minimize the risk of gastrointestinal damage. SUCCEED is safe to feed during NSAID use for digestive support, and daily administration can support GI recovery after treatment.
SUCCEED Veterinary Formula
SUCCEED Veterinary formula is recommended for ongoing gut health management in your client’s horses that need more advanced digestive support.
This formula offers the same benefits as the original SUCCEED DCP, plus additional amino acids for GI mucosa and muscle. It does not test in competition horses and won’t interfere with other drugs or supplements.
Talk to your clients about the SUCCEED Veterinary Formula today to support your equine patient’s long-term gastrointestinal health, even after other medical treatments end.
References
- Kerbyson, N. et al. A Comparison Between Omeprazole and a Dietary Supplement for the Management of Squamous Gastric Ulceration in Horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2016.
- Bishop, R. et al. Effect of omeprazole and sucralfate on gastrointestinal injury in a fasting/NSAID model. Equine Vet J. 2021.
- Cuming, R. et al. Review of glucocorticoid therapy in horses. Part 1: Pharmacology. Equine Vet Ed. 2016.
- Arnold, C. et al. Alterations in the Fecal Microbiome and Metabolome of Horses with Antimicrobial-Associated Diarrhea Compared to Antibiotic-Treated and Non-Treated Healthy Case Controls. Animals (Basel). 2021.
- Davis, J. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug associated right dorsal colitis in the horse. Equine Vet Ed. 2015.
