Page 28 - March 2007 The Game

28 The Game, March 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Special Advertorial Feature
Health & Nutrition 2007
PROBIOTICS AND EQUINE HEALTH
By Dr. Gordon Chang - Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals
The term, probiotics, has been commonly referred to as good bacteria. This term “good bacteria” is however a bit misleading. There is nothing inherently good or bad about bacteria. The term “good” usually refers to the fact that in the intestinal tract the “good bacteria” and its waste products are better tolerated by the body than that produced by the so-called “bad bacteria”. Many different types of bacteria usually colonize in the body. Bacteria is found on the surface of the body, on the hair, in the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, in the urinary tract and in the respiratory tract.
Normally in a healthy horse the bacteria types and numbers are kept in balance by the action of the immune system and competition by the different bacterial species. Sometimes the balance of bacterial strains living in and on the horse becomes disturbed due to stress from the environment, stress from training, stress from feeding too much grain and not enough roughage, use of drugs such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, corticosteriods, and ulcer treatment medications.
Many times all of the above happens and this leads to severe illness, which can sometimes be related back to the balance of bacteria.
Both training stress and environmental stresses such as toxin overload can result in a depression of the immune system. A depression of the immune system can lead to an inability of the horse’s body to deal with everyday toxins which can eventually lead to illness. This illness results from the interference, of the
thousands of biochemical reactions that must go on if the body is to be healthy, by toxins either produced by the bacteria microflora or absorbed from the environment.
While antibiotics may be helpful in treating cases of an acute bacterial infection, it also indiscriminately kills off both good and bad bacteria. In many instances, after antibiotic treatment, bad bacteria replace many of the good bacteria and this makes it easier to get ill again.
There are many different types of good bacteria. If the gut were entirely colonized by one type of good bacteria it would also lead to severe health problems. The reason for this is again the inability of the body to detoxify large quantities of one type of waste produced by one type of bacteria. Thus in order to optimize the horse’s health it is usually a good idea to use as many different types of good bacteria as possible. The acids in the stomach also very easily destroy bacteria. Therefore to optimize the amount of bacteria reaching the caecum and large intes- tine it is usually a good idea to combine it with soluble fibers found in herbs such as slippery elm, marshmallow root, and flax seed. The fiber from these herbs will form a protective microenvironment that will protect the bacteria from destruction by the acids normally found in the stomach.
Bacteria, both good and bad do not live forever in the gut. The have a certain lifetime. During this time they reproduce and die. If the bacteria are not replenished on a regular basis many of the bacteria will eventually die and be replaced. The replacement bacteria may be good bacteria or bad. Therefore to ensure that the replacement
bacteria are good, they must be fed to your horse on a regular basis.
In an adult horse, good bacteria colonies are not established overnight. The good bacteria must first displace the bad bacteria by competing for space and food. This process takes time, and does not occur in an instant. Therefore the use of probiotics (good bacteria) must become part of the everyday feeding program in order to obtain best results.
The final question that is asked is “what are the con- crete benefits of probiotics (good bacteria) on the horse’s health?” In answer to this question the horse owner would probably notice less gastrointestinal problems (ulcers, colic), lower incidence of colds and flu, better weight gain on the horse, and in general a more healthy horse.
Did You Know....
That for the last three years, jump jockeys in England have been using
a new
“cushioned whip”
which is said to be undergoing modification for use in flat racing. The new style whip, which is designed to be fractionally lighter, longer
and is also cushioned, will be phased in to
flat racing and become mandatory on April 1, 2007.
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QuadBLOCK
Vitamin/Mineral Block for Horses *Splits into 4 stall-size blocks
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MoorGLO
Grain Replacer
*A premium stabilized rice bran Supplement *Easy feeding pelleted formulation *Reduces or replaces grain in the ration *Even-release energy for enhanced performance & concentration
Available at Co-ops, Country Depots, tack shops served by AL Distributing, and selected dealers throughout Ontario. For store locations in your area, call us at 1-800-567-7692 or check: www.adm-nutrition.ca
Because you know he has what it takes....
“ Reduces bleeding “ Strengthens lungs “ Will not test
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