Feed products indicated as suitable for horses and ponies prone to gastric ulcers
Sets out the proper use of the indication, “Suitable for horses and ponies prone to gastric ulcers”.
This is part of a guidance collection and should be read in association with Advertising non-medicinal veterinary products.
This sets out the proper use of the indication, “Suitable for horses and ponies prone to gastric ulcers”.
The purpose of this indication is to provide vets and keepers of equine animals a means to identify a low-risk source of nutrition for an animal that has, or has had, gastric ulcers.
For a feed product to use this indication the following conditions must be adhered to:
The indication
The statement “Suitable for horses and ponies prone to gastric ulcers” must be used verbatim.
Basic management advice may be provided such as:
- Meal size (small) and frequency (high)
- Minimum (dry matter) feed mass
- Inclusion of forage to encourage chewing and saliva production
- Provision of fibre before exercise
- The use of diverse forage, not just straw as a sole forage source
- Recommendations on rest periods to reduce stress
- Ensuring the availability of drinking water
The product packaging must state in clear, prominent text, alongside either any permitted management advice or feeding instructions:
“This product does not prevent, treat or cure gastric ulcers. if you suspect your horse has ulcers please consult your vet.”
The product presentation shall:
- advise feeding rates that result in a combined sugar/starch less than 1g/kg body weight per meal
- advise feeding rates that provide a combine sugar/starch total less than 2g/kg body weight per day
The product shall be a:
- complete feed, or
- feed balancer that is a complete source of nutrition to be fed alongside forage, or
- forage replacer
The product shall:
- have a starch/sugar content of less than 20% where presented as “Low” or “Medium” Energy
- have a starch/sugar content of less than 25% where presented as “High” Energy or “Competition”
The product must not:
- be presented for any effect on gastric ulcers, their causes or symptoms
- be presented for any effect on gastric acid, its production, or pH
- contain non-forage substances with a purpose or effect of modifying gastric pH through alkalising effects
- be presented for any effect on “gastric”, or “digestive health”
- be a supplement
- present or refer to any other product that would not conform to these requirements