Probiotics are the most important supplementary dietary consideration in horse health. Adequate levels of probiotics are critical for efficient fermentation of fibre, starches and sugar and for optimum digestion and immunity, and for colon health. The majority of these friendly bacteria are found in the hindgut. The lowest numbers are found in the stomach, where few bacterial species are adapted to the acidic environment and in the small intestine, where food passes through quickly and where there are higher levels of bile acid. The biggest cause of probiotic deficiency is the over-feeding of sugars and starches which rapidly deplete probiotic levels.

Probiotics Do:

• Ferment all fibre in the hindgut, converting it into energy.
• Ensure the fermentation of excess starches, preventing colic, impactions, and leaky gut.
• Support weight loss through fat metabolism.
• Aid in weight gain by converting fibre to energy.
• Limit the action of putrefactive microbes.
• Discourage the proliferation of harmful disease-causing bacteria such as E. Coli, streptococcus, and salmonella.
• Limit the production of harmful bacteria.
• Reduce diarrhea, including antibiotic related diarrhea.
• Discourage yeast overgrowths.
• Protect the intestinal walls by adhering to the membranes and blocking the absorption of bacteria, harmful toxins, viruses, and allergens.
• Promote gut motility, peristalsis and normal bowel movements.
• Promote the synthesis of B-vitamins and vitamins A and K.
• Contribute to a healthy immune system.
• Reduce allergies.
• Prevent intestinal cancers.
• Metabolize estrogen, enabling the hormones to be re-absorbed from the colon, converted by the liver into useable form and excreted if in excess. (This is why the health of the colon is so important in hormonal diseases including human breast cancer.)

The equine hindgut harbours a highly complex and abundant community of micro-organisms. It is estimated that 60%-80% of intestinal bacteria have not yet been identified; therefore no probiotic supplement will ever contain every possible strain. However, a good probiotic blend of beneficial bacteria will manage to restore micro-floral balance by promoting improved digestion, outnumbering harmful bacteria and yeast, and increasing nutrient levels by ensuring the synthesis and absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.

Use Probiotics With:

• Any sign or history of indigestion, colic, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, weight loss, and/or poor appetite.
• Insulin resistance, diabetes, Cushing’s and obesity.
• All cases of grain/grass founder and laminitis – for both prevention and treatment. Horses with adequate probiotic levels not only recover faster but are less likely to succumb to unhealthy hindgut conditions.
• The use of antibiotics, steroids, or chemical de-wormers, all of which deplete  probiotic levels
• All detoxification programs.
• Horses challenged by hay to grass or grass to hay transitions.
• Horses that have endured prolonged periods of stress.
• Immunity issues and/or allergies
• Older horses, to ensure adequate digestion of nutrients. Most older horses at some time or another have experienced imbalanced feeding programs, excessive sugars, chronic stress, and/or medications leading to a “burn-out” of good bacteria.

Probiotic dosages are measured in CFUs (colony forming units). Of the many different strains of bacteria available to use however, it best to use a blend that contains at least 24 billion CFUs (per dosage) of both a Bifidus and an Acidophilus strain. Probiotics should be kept refrigerated to avoid loss of potency. (There are probiotics available that are stabilized to room temperature but they are too low a potency to be of any value for horses. Similarly, probiotics that come in a non-refrigerated feed or supplement should not be considered a reliable source of good bacteria.)

Depending on the condition of the horse, probiotics should be supplemented daily for a minimum of 3 weeks to re-establish micro-flora. After this loading period, daily supplementation should be continued if required for optimum digestion and energy, and for the prevention of colic, parasites, diarrhea, and “leaky gut”.

Probiotics should be administered immediately at the first signs of over-eating, colic and diet-related lameness.

This is an excerpt from Healing Horses: Their Way!
-  Marijke van de Water, B.Sc., DHMS.
-  Copyright October 2008