Probiotics - Part 2

For our probiotics series, Dr. Sheila Schils from Equine Nutritional Consulting is answering all of our questions about what probiotics are and how they can help your horse. We really appreciate all the great information she's given. Check out this two-part series, and be sure to let us know what you think in the discussion section following the article!

What else should be found in the probiotic I feed to my horse?
Probiotics seem to obtain better results by combining them with bacterial growth nutrients (e.g. fermentable sugar (oligosaccharide), peptides, buffers, and trace minerals). Streptococcus faecium may not be able to survive the acidity of the stomach so it is probably not useful as an oral probiotics. Bacillus subtilis is sometimes used in probiotics mainly because it will tolerate pelleting. Enterococcus faecium (formerly Streptococcus faecium) is used because it is easy and inexpensive to grow. It also increases the numbers on the tag without having the same benefits as L. acidophilus. Vitamins A, E and C can be added as antioxidants.

Are there any specific conditions that indicate the need for probiotics?
As more researchers study the use of probiotics on horses and more veterinarians prescribe probiotics for their clients, the list of benefits to the horse increases. Probiotics may assist in increasing the body's resistance to infectious diseases, and decrease incidences of colic by preventing the buildup of gases and acids in the gut. They also improve hoof growth and hardness because more hoof -building vitamins and minerals will be available to the horse (biotin and methionine). Probiotics promote bone development and density due to improved phosphorus and calcium utilization. A horse getting probiotics can be calmer due to heightened B-vitamin levels and improved utilization of nutrients.

In general, probiotics have been shown to be useful for the horse that has:

• frequent mild colics

• recurrent mild diarrhea

• excessive gas

• allergies

• after antibiotic treatment

• after illness or surgery

• older horses (especially over 18 years of age)

• introduction of new feeds (e.g. spring pasture)

And during/after certain events:

• after deworming

• shipping long distances

• strenuous training programs

• extremes of temperature

• changes in diet

• breeding

• foaling

When should I start feeding a probiotic?
If the horse has experienced an imbalance in the gut flora, the imbalance can be long lasting, maybe even for a lifetime. Horses are not born with a healthy population of gut microflora, they must acquire them from the environment. Nursing foals do not need fiber-digesting bacteria until they start to eat fibrous foods. To inoculate the foal's system with microbes, the foal will eat the manure of adult horses.

How often should I feed a probiotic?
Most feed probiotics daily. Yeast must be fed continuously to get long-term results. This is because yeast does not normally populate the horse's gut. Although yeast grows optimally at a pH that is lower than the pH found in the cecum and large intestine, it will be able to survive for short periods of time if fed daily. It takes 7-10 days for gut microbes to reach an optimum level and the population drops in the same amount of time after you remove yeast culture from the diet. Large amounts of water may wash out digestive microbes, but microbes can reproduce quickly to repopulate.

Is there ever a time I should discontinue feeding my horse probiotics?
Some feel if probiotics are fed during antibiotic treatment, there should be at least 2 hours between antibiotic and probiotic so the two don't meet in the digestive system and cancel each other out. Others recommend completely discontinuing the use of probiotics during antibiotic treatment.

How do I store my probiotics?
Probiotics loose effectiveness if exposed to heat, and they must be kept fresh or results of treatments can be drastically effected. To help keep them fresh, always keep the probiotics in a cool, dry place, and it's a good idea to refrigerate them in the summer. Extreme cold is not a problem; it is ok for probiotics to freeze.

Should probiotics be used for foals?
It is best to consult your veterinarian concerning feeding probiotics to foals. But in general, recommendations for preventative health care for foals are to administer a probiotic paste to a newborn at day 1, 2 and 7, 9, 11 and 13. In deficiency situations, give a probiotic paste twice daily until eating creep feed rations where the probiotic can be given with the feed. Probiotics high in iron can produce an iron overload/toxicity in foals, so be careful of the brand you choose.

About Dr. Schilis
Dr. Sheila Schils has a Master's degree in Equine Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology/Biomechanics. She was a Professor of Equine Science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for 20 years. Currently, Dr. Schils runs two businesses; Equine Nutritional Consulting and Equine Rehabilitation. She has spoken nationally on the topics of equine nutrition and the biomechanics of horse and rider. She has raised warmblood horses and has been active in the horse industry as a competitive rider, receiving many national and regional awards in eventing and dressage.