Probiotics and Your Horse
Horses are different from their human owners in a lot of ways, not the least of which is the way in which they digest food. Horses are known as hind gut fermenters, they depend on microorganisms in their gastrointestinal tract to help them get the maximum nutritional value they can out of their food. Probiotics work to keep those microorganisms healthy, and the healthier the microorganisms the better the digestion. To reap the maximum benefits of probiotic use, you should use probiotics on a consistent basis. One way to due this is to add the supplement directly to the feed.
Horses use microorganisms to help them digest their food.
So what exactly are probiotics? They are live bacteria. That may sound gross, but probiotics are gaining popularity in the human diet as well. Several brands of yogurt, such as Activia, use probiotics to aid in human digestion as well!
Probiotic supplementation in pregnant horses has been shown to increase the quality of their milk upon lactation, thereby helping foals of horses fed probiotics to grow better. In growing horses fed probiotics, it had been found to increase muscle and bone growth. Additionally probiotics may help to stimulate an animal’s immune system, boosting their chance of fighting off infections!
Daily Start Pro-Biotic by Equi-Shine is one available probiotic product. This product is intended for daily use to improve digestion and reduce digestive upset. It contains Lactobacillus acidophilus and four other probiotics, to establish a population of good bacteria in horse’s gut. Daily Start also contains over five antioxidants to protect against free radical damage, particularly in older horses. Check it out here.
Equi-Shine's product will help your horse out-shine the competition!
For-A-Flex Multi-Vitamin Mix is a complete vitamin and mineral supplement that provides an excellent foundation for essential equine nutrition. This mix contains a blend of microscopic organisms to help support and maintain your horse’s overall nutrient utilization. Just add it to your horses daily feed to maximize their digestion and overall health!
Vita Flex Accel Horse Supplement Complete Program is formulated to provide maximum nutrition for the performance horse. This product supplies all the necessary fat and water soluble vitamins, chelated trace minerals, electrolytes, amino acids and probiotics. With a highly palatable formula, both you and your horse will love it!
Accel provides maximum nutrition for your performance horse.
There are lots of options out there, so make sure you find one that is complete and easy to use. If you have any questions, just ask your veterinarian!
