{"product_id":"vetpro-gut-biotic-powder","title":"Vetpro Gut-Biotic Powder","description":"\u003cp\u003eVetpro Gut-Biotic combines prebiotics and probiotics to help restore and maintain a healthy hindgut microbiome. It contains active yeast and specialised prebiotics that nourish beneficial gut microbes, supporting efficient digestion and normal gut function. Vetpro Gut-Biotic may be particularly beneficial during changes in feed, travel, illness, antibiotic treatment, hard work or competition\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection aria-labelledby=\"equine-microbiome-heading\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"equine-microbiome-heading\" class=\"vetpro-green-heading\"\u003eWhat is the Microbiome of a Horse?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHorses (and humans) need a collection of microbes to complete the digestion process. This collection is called a microbiome and exists in the hindgut – caecum and large colon of the horse. It consists of beneficial bacteria and depends on a vast army of microbes that protect against germs, break down food to release energy and nutrients, and internally produce certain vitamins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe microbiome is very important to the overall health of the horse. A horse is vulnerable to changes that can occur in the balance and quality of its bacteria, and that change will negatively affect the processing of food and therefore the wellbeing of the horse (Boucher et al., 2024).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChanges can occur for many reasons, such as illness, stress, changes in environment, excessive work demand and especially the administration of antibiotics which kill both negative and positive bacteria. The other aspect of a negative influence is the need to maintain a horse in a less natural format, for example stabling, high concentrate feeds, pasture restriction and a high-performance requirement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection aria-labelledby=\"probiotic-heading\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"probiotic-heading\"\u003eWhat is a Probiotic?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a live microorganism such as beneficial bacteria or a live yeast. Adding it to the diet of a horse can help with supporting and improving the microbiome (Ganda et al., 2023).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most effective viable probiotic for horses is a yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Perricone et al., 2022), (Jouany et al., 2008, 2009).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection aria-labelledby=\"prebiotic-heading\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"prebiotic-heading\"\u003eWhat is a Prebiotic?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a non-living substrate support for the microorganisms in the gut to help nourish, encourage growth and stability (Schoster et al., 2014), (Berg et al., 2005), and, for example, MOS binds undesirable bacteria so they are taken out of the gut with the faecal matter before they can pass into the bloodstream. Such toxic bacteria can be a cause of grass laminitis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vetpro.co.nz\/laminitis-from-dietary-intake\/\"\u003eRead more about laminitis caused by dietary intake.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection aria-labelledby=\"prebiotic-probiotic-heading\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"prebiotic-probiotic-heading\"\u003eHow do Prebiotics and Probiotics Help a Horse?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe addition of pre- and probiotics can assist horses that are undergoing changes in their normal conditions. Changes such as a different and unnatural environment, feed regime, illness, or a greater work demand (Coverdale J.A. 2016).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn particular, the use of antibiotics will kill good and bad bacteria and therefore reduce the quality and effectiveness of the natural microbiome. Adding a mix of pre- and probiotics at this time will greatly improve the recovery and adjustment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not necessary to always add either to the diet once recovery is in place and normal conditions have returned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA particular longer-term applicable use for the prebiotic called FCOS, that is fructo-oligosaccharides, is for overweight horses. FCOS has been shown by science to help prevent the development of EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome) in obese horses (Respondek et al., 2011).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection aria-labelledby=\"summary-heading\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"summary-heading\"\u003eIn Summary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth probiotics and prebiotics have a role to play in assisting the microbiome of the horse. This is an important area of the digestion process of the horse which is often overlooked as needing support when the normal way of life of the horse has changed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese changes may be obvious in a sensitive horse and reflect in behaviour and performance, but the microbiome in all horses is vulnerable and will lose efficiency when conditions change such as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderweight horses to improve the gut flora to process food efficiently and aid weight gain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorses in hard work and competition to help maintain good gut function under that stress.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorses that are unwell and especially those on antibiotics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorses that show signs of diarrhoea.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorses that are undergoing long distance travel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorses that have to change their diet, especially change of grazing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOverweight horses to help prevent onset of insulin resistance and its consequences.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOften a short-term period of a few weeks is all that is needed to re-establish the efficiency of the process, longer if it is the application of FCOS for obesity until weight loss has occurred.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vetpro.co.nz\/product\/gut-biotic\/\"\u003eRead more about managing the overweight horse.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection aria-labelledby=\"gut-biotic-work-heading\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"gut-biotic-work-heading\"\u003eHow Does Vetpro Gut-Biotic Work?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVetpro Gut-Biotic contains prebiotic and probiotic actives that, in line with the science, will improve the horse’s gut microbiome to be restored and hence directly assist the health of the horse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eActive ingredients, all sourced from high quality European manufacturers:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePrebiotics (stimulating gut microflora)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShort-chained fructo-oligosaccharide (Inulin) – sc-FOS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMannan Oligosaccharide – MOS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProbiotic (providing 25 billion CFU active microflora)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActive yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"VetPro","offers":[{"title":"500g","offer_id":50614992240877,"sku":"49489","price":36.63,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0531\/4052\/1146\/files\/vetpro-horse-stomach-anatomy.jpg?v=1788384334","url":"https:\/\/horse-sports.com\/products\/vetpro-gut-biotic-powder","provider":"HorseSports NZ Equestrian Supplies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}