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horse. Foals first receive them from the dams as they are
being licked clean after birth. From then on, regular
ingestion allows the horse to reseed the number of
microorganisms as they are gradually decreased. Probiotics in your horse’s diet will allow the
microorganisms to flourish.
All this points toward the wisdom of supplying these
probiotics, but which method yields the best results – after
all, there is the paste you can use or the powder that can
be added to the feed. Research has shown that to reap the
maximum benefit of the supplementation, it should be done on
a consistent basis, thus added to the feed. The paste, on
the other hand, is a great tool to help an animal that
experienced a shock to its system, such as colic, surgery,
or even a round of antibiotics. The supplementation of the
feed is more of a long-term program.
While there is no harm in giving probiotics, it is advisable
to read the directions when it comes to the proper dosage.
Similarly, not every horse is in dire need of
supplementation. Take for example a healthy, mature horse
which receives little or no exercise, and you may rest
assured that the animal does not experience a critical need.
On the other hand, if your animal is a show horse, travels,
or performs otherwise, you will want to supplement.
Additionally, if you notice a lack in appetite, colic, or
abdominal strain, you will want to add some probiotics to
the dietary regimen.
On a side note, the very reason why horse owners are warned
not to suddenly switch an animal’s diet is simply due to the
fact that the feed the animal normally enjoys determines the
kinds of microorganisms that are living in the gut. Switch
the feed, and the result is gas, ammonia build up, and other
problems as the microorganisms are seeking to cope with the
change of feed. The results may be founder of colic.
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