THE EQUINE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

A horse’s colon is built very long to aid in the removal of nutrients from hay. The length causes the colon to fold over itself and loop around. Because of this, there are several sites of the colon that are prone to impaction.
One type of colic, called impaction or gas colic, occurs when feed materials build up in a part of the colon and cannot be dislodged.
Without adequate dietary fiber, a horse is predisposed to nutritional imbalances and colic problems.
A horse’s digestive system is sensitive and often reacts negatively to change. For the most part, horses do not enjoy a change in diet and prefer to eat what they are accustomed to.
Any change in feeding can result in bacteria in the digestive system becoming out of balance, which can lead to intestinal problems or even life threatening conditions.

MICROBIAL BALANCE AND THE USE OF PROBIOTICS

Why it’s important for a horse to maintain the microbial balance:

A horse's stomach requires digestive enzymes to begin the process of breaking down food. When that food is then delivered to the intestinal tract, specific types of bacteria are needed to continue the digestive process, so that the body may absorb the nutrition found in the food. Digestive enzymes work with the gastric juices to start the breakdown, and then bacteria makes the feed into usable, absorbable compounds.
However, this microbial population of enzymes and bacteria in the equine digestive system is not stable.
Shifts in the microbial population can affect digestive efficiency. In the worst cases, large die-offs of certain species of bacteria can release endotoxins, which may contribute to colic, enteritis, or laminitis.
Without the proper microbial balance of digestive enzymes and intestinal bacteria, food passes through the system without being fully digested. This undigested food may lead to situations such as colic, colic-like symptoms, bloating, or may set up an ideal environment for parasite growth.

Causes of shifts in the microbial population:

Fluctuations in the internal system of a horse, such as changes in temperature, pH, dehydration, or the presence of antibiotics or medications may affect, or even destroy, the microorganism population.
Although horses in the wild may naturally eat what is needed to maintain a proper microbial balance, horses in domestic environments may not.
One of the most common sources of microbial imbalance and digestive disturbances for horses is stress. Things such as sudden changes, moving, travel, breeding and pregnancy, parasites, vaccines, viruses, and injury may bring on stress. Stress can also be created by unusual or unseasonable weather, alterations in the environment, and lesser quality feeds or water.

The need for probiotics:

Probiotics are either a live of freeze-dried culture of some of the “friendly” species of bacteria that do their work in the digestive tract.
To maintain digestive efficiency, probiotics are used to maintain a balanced population of enzymes and bacteria.
By adding probiotics to a horse’s diet, the bacteria that is lost due to stress and other factors is replaced, and major shifts in the microbial population are avoided.
The use of probitotics can help to maintain a healthy microbial balance, setting up an ideal environment for digestion, and maximizing the health and well-being of a horse.