In order to better understand the role of microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of horses with colic, researchers observed changes at three key time points during a hospital stay to determine if population shifts were related to specific gastrointestinal disease.*
Seventeen horses admitted to a veterinary hospital for colic were used in this study. They represented a range of ages, from three years old to over 20. Other than one crossbred, all of the horses were Thoroughbreds or Warmbloods. Fourteen horses had colic signs for less than 60 hours and the remainder had signs for longer. Eight horses underwent surgery, and nine were managed medically.
Researchers collected fecal samples at the time of admission, one day after admission, and three days after admission (or at the time of discharge if beforehand). They measured the diversity and richness of bacterial species within microbiota populations.
The microbiota profile changed depending on the location and duration of the colic episode. “Several differences in bacterial phyla and genera were observed at different time points and with different types of colic,” according to the researchers. Specifically, horses admitted to the hospital with colic duration of more than 60 hours and large colon lesions have a distinct bacterial population compared to horses with colic duration of less than 60 hours and small intestinal lesions, including lower bacterial diversity and species richness.
Understanding the influence of the microbiota population as it relates to colic may one day help researchers solve the greater mystery of gastrointestinal disease. In the meantime, sound management practices will help keep horses safe from digestive dysfunction. Keep these management tips in mind:
- Provide a source of clean water to horses at all times, being especially mindful to check waterers or outdoor water sources daily in all seasons.
- Offer pasture, hay, or hay alternative for much of the day. When necessary, slow consumption by using a grazing muzzle, slow-feed haynet, or drylot.
- Make changes in diet gradually, preferably over the course of 10-14 days. While many owners yield to this suggestion when switching concentrate, fewer do so with forage. Always acclimate horses to new forage slowly.
- Furnish as much turnout as possible, as stabled horses are sometimes more prone to colic than horses at pasture.
- Use feed tubs or buckets whenever feeding off the ground, particularly in sandy areas.
While most horses are sensitive to abrupt changes in diet, others feel the effects from even the slightest of changes. Targeted supplementation can help these horses transition more safely, according to Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research.
“A high-quality product, such as EquiShure, stabilizes the pH of the hindgut during diet changes. When the pH stays consistent, the bacterial population remains vigorous. But, as the pH drops and the hindgut environment becomes more acidic, the bacterial population changes and loses efficiency,” Whitehouse explained.
*Stewart, H.L., D. Pitta, N. Indugu, B. Vecchiarelli, M.L. Hennessey, J.B. Engiles, and L.L. Southwood. 2021. Changes in the faecal bacterial microbiota during hospitalisation of horses with colic and the effect of different causes of colic. Equine Veterinary Journal 53:1119-1131.
Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.
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