When the gut microbiome integrity is disrupted, this renders the immune response dysfunctional, so it's imperative to clear out the bad bacteria and regenerate the friendly gut biome colonies, in order to rebalance the beneficial gut biome and the immune system.

Vets are commonly prescribing antibiotics for leaky gut syndrome, referring to it as a 'stomach infection'. Yet as we know, antibiotics not only have a mere 5% chance of working, but they also kill off the microbiome's beneficial biota in the intestines. This has a profound effect on optimal health as It's these beneficial microbes which create the immune cells.

Leaky Gut is caused by dysbiosis in the microbiome, aka SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overload). This means the pro-inflammatory, unfriendly gut bacteria have taken hold, including the now recognised Archaea strand, which the latest research showing that they are now resistant to the majority of antibiotics that are commonly used against bacteria.

Hence. the antibiotics that many practitioners typically prescribe for gut bacterial infections are not only ineffective, but risk causing further long-term health damage. Human health studies now show the microbiome as a whole rarely recovers fully from an antibiotic assault.

Furthermore, this also has a profound knock-on effect on the liver/kidneys detoxification process, because when there’s leaky gut, this means there's an overload of damaged, putrefactive toxins that the liver has to metabolise (correct name biotransform). This affects the kidneys ability to excrete the toxin overload quickly enough, which means the toxins remain circulating in the body, keeping the horse stuck in a state of chronic ill-health.

For further hindgut insights, see our main Gut System page (Advice Centre/A-Z Equine Condition)

A step-by-step guide to supporting your horse’s recovery

Alleviate

First, we start alleviating the gut discomfort and inflammation with DuoBute , formulated to be very gentle on the fragile gut mucosa.

• Feed for a couple of days in a p.m. feed to start taking the edge off, before starting the detox. Continue feeding until finished.
• Optional - if your horse is stressed, also feed a 1-month course of StressTonic .

Detox

Stage 1 - Gut Stabilise

Once your horse has had a couple of days on the DuoBute (and StressTonic if feeding), now we start the detox.

Feed the HINDGUTCOMBO in an a.m. feed for 1-month, then take a few days to assess. It's important to see how your horse's gut functions following the supplement; depending on the historic degree of gut damage, it may be that a 2nd month's course will need to be fed.

• A 1-month course of HindgutCOMBO - a combined 3-in-1 blend of EquiNatural's SiboCARE , GutAminos , & Spirulina .

Stage 2 - Detoxification Organs

We now tone the body's detoxification organs - liver, kidneys, lymph nodes. This addresses the body's natural detox process and resets the gut:liver:kidneys pathway, to support immune function and metabolic health.

• A 1-month course of LKLCARE

NB. If you think your horse is a KPU candidate, see our KPU page .

Top Tip: For fussy eaters, start slow! A pinch of each at a time and slowly build up.

Important Note: Supplements of any kind should be fed with caution to the pregnant or nursing mare so always seek veterinary advice.

The focus now is on maintaining your horse's health long-term. By feeding tonifying supplements to support a balanced gut microbiome, alongside a diet rich in healthy, natural nutrition, you'll be giving your horse the best chance to thrive.

Have a look at our suggestions below - we're not saying to feed them all - just go with what feels right for your horse. Metabolic health is a sliding scale, influenced by daily choices that compound over time. Each decision - big or small - helps tip the scales in your horse's favour, ensuring lasting wellness and vitality.

1. Think fortify- switch processed feeds to a grass forage-fibre feed, i.e a meadow cob/chaff, and getting as much quality hay going through the hindgut, while closing the nutrient gap with forage-balanced minerals.
2. BiomeTonic , aka the well-known 'oily herbs', stabilise the intestinal environment by protecting the beneficial gut bacteria while creating an unwelcome environment for pathogen microbes and parasites. Some horses seem to need it permanently; others do well when fed every couple of weeks or so. It's very much horses for courses so your horse will no doubt tell you.
3. WildFed adds valuable prebiotic roughage and nutrient diversity to the diet. Either add to the feedbowl or sprinkle a handful over hay every other day or so - horses love to seek out the herbs for enrichment.
4. VitaBoost is more than a supplement - it's a powerhouse of natural nourishment for your horse. Crafted from 9 organic antioxidant-rich ingredients, this soya-free, synthetic-free blend provides essential vitamins in their natural form (A, C, E, K, and B-complex), anti-inflammatory antioxidants, and powerful beta-glucans to fortify vitality, performance, and long-term health.
   
   Whether your horse is in light work or intense training, VitaBoost delivers a natural feedbowl tonic for optimal wellbeing. Feed however it suits, either every day or one week a month - whenever you think your horse needs a nutrient boost.