Horses (and humans) need a collection of microbes to complete the digestion process. This collection is called a microbiome and exists in the hindgut – caecum and large colon of the horse. It consists of beneficial bacteria and depends on a vast army of microbes that protect against germs, break down food to release energy and nutrients, and internally produce certain vitamins.
The microbiome is very important to the overall health of the horse. A horse is vulnerable to changes that can occur in the balance and quality of its bacteria, and that change will negatively affect the processing of food and therefore the wellbeing of the horse (Boucher et al., 2024).
Changes can occur for many reasons, such as illness, stress, changes in environment, excessive work demand and especially the administration of antibiotics which kill both negative and positive bacteria. The other aspect of a negative influence is the need to maintain a horse in a less natural format, for example stabling, high concentrate feeds, pasture restriction and a high-performance requirement.
This is a live microorganism such as beneficial bacteria or a live yeast. Adding it to the diet of a horse can help with supporting and improving the microbiome (Ganda et al., 2023).
The most effective viable probiotic for horses is a yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Perricone et al., 2022), (Jouany et al., 2008, 2009).
This is a non-living substrate support for the microorganisms in the gut to help nourish, encourage growth and stability (Schoster et al., 2014), (Berg et al., 2005), and, for example, MOS binds undesirable bacteria so they are taken out of the gut with the faecal matter before they can pass into the bloodstream. Such toxic bacteria can be a cause of grass laminitis.
The addition of pre- and probiotics can assist horses that are undergoing changes in their normal conditions. Changes such as a different and unnatural environment, feed regime, illness, or a greater work demand (Coverdale J.A. 2016).
In particular, the use of antibiotics will kill good and bad bacteria and therefore reduce the quality and effectiveness of the natural microbiome. Adding a mix of pre- and probiotics at this time will greatly improve the recovery and adjustment.
It is not necessary to always add either to the diet once recovery is in place and normal conditions have returned.
A particular longer-term applicable use for the prebiotic called FCOS, that is fructo-oligosaccharides, is for overweight horses. FCOS has been shown by science to help prevent the development of EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome) in obese horses (Respondek et al., 2011).
Both probiotics and prebiotics have a role to play in assisting the microbiome of the horse. This is an important area of the digestion process of the horse which is often overlooked as needing support when the normal way of life of the horse has changed.
These changes may be obvious in a sensitive horse and reflect in behaviour and performance, but the microbiome in all horses is vulnerable and will lose efficiency when conditions change such as:
Often a short-term period of a few weeks is all that is needed to re-establish the efficiency of the process, longer if it is the application of FCOS for obesity until weight loss has occurred.
Vetpro Gut-Biotic contains prebiotic and probiotic actives that, in line with the science, will improve the horse’s gut microbiome to be restored and hence directly assist the health of the horse.
Active ingredients, all sourced from high quality European manufacturers:
The microbiome is the collection of beneficial microbes that live in the horse’s hindgut. These microorganisms help complete the digestive process, release nutrients and energy from food, produce certain vitamins and contribute to the horse’s overall health.
A probiotic is a live microorganism, such as beneficial bacteria or live yeast. A prebiotic is a non-living substrate that nourishes and supports those beneficial microorganisms already living within the gut.
It may be useful during periods of illness, antibiotic treatment, changes in diet or grazing, travel, increased workload, competition or other situations where the normal balance of the microbiome may be disrupted.
Yes. The client information explains that antibiotics kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria. Adding a mix of pre- and probiotics during this time may assist recovery and adjustment.
Not necessarily. Often a short-term period of a few weeks is all that is needed to re-establish the efficiency of the microbiome once normal conditions have returned.
The prebiotic FCOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) has been shown to help prevent the development of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) in obese horses when used as part of an appropriate nutritional programme.
Recommended dose: 25g for an average 500kg horse.
Use the scoop provided. A level scoop is approximately 25g.
Available sizes: 500g and 1kg sealed foil pouches.
Storage: Store in a cool dry place and always reseal the pouch after use.
Boucher, L., Sims, C. J., Arroyo, L. G., & Weese, J. S. (2024). Current understanding of equine gut dysbiosis and microbiota manipulation techniques: A review. Animals, 14(5), Article 701.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050758
Coverdale, J. A. (2016). Horse species symposium: Can the microbiome of the horse be altered to improve digestion? Journal of Animal Science, 94(6), 2275–2281.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2015-0056
Ganda, E., Chakrabarti, A., Sardi, M. I., Tench, M., Kozlowicz, B. K., Norton, S. A., Warren, L. K., & Khafipour, E. (2023). Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product improves robustness of equine gut microbiome upon stress. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 1134092.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1134092
Garber, A., Hastie, P. M., Farci, V., Bulmer, L., Alzahal, O., & Murray, J. A. M. D. (2020). The effect of supplementing pony diets with yeast on the faecal microbiome. Animal, 14(12), 2493–2502.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731120001512
Jouany, J.-P., Gobert, J., Medina, B., Bertin, G., & Julliand, V. (2008). Effect of live yeast culture supplementation on apparent digestibility and rate of passage in horses fed a high-fibre or high-starch diet. Journal of Animal Science, 86(2), 339–347.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2006-796
Jouany, J.-P., Medina, B., Bertin, G., & Julliand, V. (2009). Effect of live yeast culture supplementation on hindgut microbial communities and their polysaccharidase and glycoside hydrolase activities in horses fed a high-fibre or high-starch diet. Journal of Animal Science, 87(9), 2844–2852.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2008-1602
Perricone, V., Sandrini, S., Irshad, N., Comi, M., Lecchi, C., Savoini, G., & Agazzi, A. (2022). The role of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in supporting gut health in horses: An updated review on its effects on digestibility and intestinal and faecal microbiota. Animals, 12(24), 3475.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243475
Respondek, F., Myers, K., Smith, T. L., Wagner, A., & Geor, R. J. (2011). Dietary supplementation with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides improves insulin sensitivity in obese horses. Journal of Animal Science, 89(1), 77–83.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3108
Schoster, A., Weese, J. S., & Guardabassi, L. (2014). Probiotic use in horses: What is the evidence for their clinical efficacy? Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 28(6), 1640–1652.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12451
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