Antibiotics And Equine Gut Health

Antibiotics can be hard on the digestive and immune systems of horses, but there are some natural approaches that can assist in restoring the equine body back to a normal state after a course of antibiotics has been finished.

Horses, just like humans, have bacteria and microbes that live in their intestinal tract; antibiotics damage the microbiota and inflame the gut wall, creating a “leaky gut” that allows compounds that are normally blocked to pass into the body. Damage to the microbiome also damages the immune system. In the case of chronic infections like Lyme disease, for which a horse may be on repeated rounds of antibiotics, the immune system and gut may never fully recover.

Helping a horse repair his gut is essential after the course of antibiotics is completed. Quality feed, prebiotics and probiotics can assist in repairing the gut wall and the immune system. Horses that eat mainly hay and forage are generally healthier than horses fed lots of grain.

Prebiotics are short-chain fibers that microbiota grown on; common forms are inulin and beta-glucans, among others. Horses can get additional amounts of prebiotics by including items in their diets that contain them (like chicory, oats and barley) or by using a commercially available supplement. Herbs like marshmallow, aloe, dandelion and ginger can all help heal the gut wall and can be planted in pastures or gardens to be fed to horses.

Probiotics fed to the horse while he is taking antibiotics can help do some damage control, but they will assist even more once the course of antibiotics has finished. Other nutrients like glutamine and colostrum can help heal the gut wall and repair the immune system. It will take a minimum of three months for the horse's gut to heal after a short course of antibiotics and much longer for repeated antibiotic use for chronic disease.

Read more at Equine Wellness Magazine.

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44,000 Pounds Of Free Horse Feed Available In Texas

The Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) is giving away 44,000 pounds of alfalfa cubes for any horse owner needing assistance in feeding their animals because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The feed, available through a partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), is available to anyone, regardless of which county or city the owner lives in.

Generously donated by Standlee Premium Western Forage Products, owners can receive up to four bags per horse (for five horses total) while supplies last. Product can be picked up at the HSNT Equine Ranch at 1033 County Road 910 in Joshua, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. No reservations are required.

Read more at NBCDRF and visit the HSNT Facebook page.

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