{"id":7418,"date":"2019-10-31T05:43:33","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T05:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeopet.kloudexpert.com\/ca?p=7418"},"modified":"2025-02-14T06:54:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T06:54:46","slug":"that-gut-feeling-maintaining-digestive-health-in-horses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeopet.kloudexpert.com\/ca\/that-gut-feeling-maintaining-digestive-health-in-horses\/","title":{"rendered":"That Gut Feeling \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Maintaining Digestive Health in Horses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Horses have a unique digestive system which has evolved for many years to digest a constant supply of low starch, fibrous feed.   But domestication and modern horse management mean that horses are sometimes fed diets that their digestive system is not well adapted for. Unfortunately, a less than natural feeding regime, coupled with the stress of competing and changes in routine or management can often result in digestive upset, including colic and Gastric Ulceration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Good digestive health is pivotal to your horse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s health and performance so it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important to ensure you are supporting this with the right diet and management.   Follow these guidelines to discover the basics of good digestive health, how and why digestive issues occur and what you can do to help prevent and relieve them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equine Digestive Health \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the basics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Horses are browsing herbivores, typically spending 16-18 hours a day moving and eating a variety of vegetation which flows through the digestive tract in a slow constant trickle.  With a small stomach and a large hindgut devoted to digesting a continual supply of fibre, they are essentially a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchindgut fermenter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 and their digestive system reflects this.  Within the hindgut, billions of microbes thrive on digesting a constant supply of fibre through fermentation, which keeps them happy and healthy, promoting a healthy hindgut.  Digestive health in horses is, therefore, dependent on feeding in sympathy with their digestive system and microbial population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, many horses can have a diet and management routine far removed from this, which can pose significant challenges to the digestive tract. Additionally, the stress associated with restricted turnout, isolation, travelling, unfamiliar surroundings and training can all significantly affect digestive health, resulting in problems that will have a significant impact on your horse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s health and wellbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digestive illness and upset <\/strong>in horses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stress caused by training, environmental or social factors can initiate a physical response leading to deteriorating gut health. Stress is a major cause of gastric ulcers, which in turn are a major cause of poor health and wellbeing.  A horse struggling with poor digestive health may lack adequate nutrition and energy, which will then have an impact on their overall health and condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diets low in fibre and high in starch have a serious impact on digestive health and are a major factor in the development of gastric ulcers.  In addition to gastric problems, the hindgut is a serious contender in health and performance issues. The health of the hindgut depends on a delicate balance between beneficial fibre digesting bacteria and more harmful bacteria which can easily change. Poorly digested high starch diets can lead to a proliferation of less desirable bacteria who produce lactic acid, and a reduction in beneficial bacteria.   Additionally, as the starch and sugar are rapidly fermented, excess gas is produced within your horse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hindgut causing flatulence and bloating and can lead to certain types of colic.   As a result of the microbial imbalance or \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcdysbiosis\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, diarrhoea can also occur and the hindgut becomes far more acidic, leading to a condition called \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchindgut acidosis\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, resulting in inflammation The acidosis also causes more beneficial bacteria to die off, producing toxins which can damage the gut lining and cause ulcers. All of this will make the hindgut sore and uncomfortable, which can result in horses going off their food (inappetence) and impact your horse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s temperament, and performance.    Just as you or I would be unhappy and wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be able to work well with a painful tummy, it is exactly the same for your horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips to optimise your horse’s digestive health<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whilst there are good veterinary treatments for digestive issues like ulcers, a treatment-based approach, maintaining horses on daily long-term medication is not ideal as it can lead to drug induced nutritional deficiencies such as B12 deficiency. Instead a preventative approach to promote good digestive health alongside using targeted homeopathy to help relieve the symptoms of digestive upset when needed is generally better:<\/p>\n\n\n\n