As a horse owner, ensuring your horse is happy and healthy is a priority, so knowing how to support their overall well-being and avoid issues like laminitis is essential. Thankfully, there are a few ways in which you can give your horse the nutrients it needs to reduce the chance of them suffering from this condition. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the link between gut health and laminitis, and how you can utilise feed additives and supplements to enhance your horse’s health.
The connection between gut health and laminitis
In the past, it was thought that only overweight horses were at risk of laminitis, but as time has passed, many have realised that there is actually a connection between laminitis and gut health. The gut plays an important role in overall equine health, affecting digestion, immunity, and general well-being – it can even impact behaviour. An imbalanced microbiome can cause various issues and can contribute to an increased risk of laminitis.
What are feed additives?
Feed additives are ingredients used in horse feeds and supplements and include a range of substances including vitamins and minerals as well as yeast and flavours. Additives can positively impact your horse’s gut health by creating a healthy microbiome which maximises the health and function of the gut itself. The microbiota is the microorganisms that live in the digestive system that the horse relies on to break down food and also form part of the horse’s immune system.
Probiotics
Probiotics are supplements that contain good bacteria and the most important thing to note is that there are none approved for use in horses in the UK and Europe. Probiotics is also a term applied to live yeast as pro means for and biotics is life. As yeast supplements contain live yeast cells the term can be applied but it is important to distinguish between the two as they have very different functions in the gut. Yeast is part of the fibre digestion process and helps to break the structure of the fibre particle apart for the fibre-digesting bacteria to work on – a bit like an adult cutting up a child’s dinner for them. By adding a yeast supplement to a horse’s diet, you are helping to restore a healthy microbiota.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that feed good bacteria in the gut. They are not live which is why they are prebiotics rather than probiotics. Providing a food source. This promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria which can enhance microbial diversity and improve digestive function overall. By providing your horse with prebiotics, they will benefit from a healthy gut environment and reduce the presence of harmful bacteria that could lead to colic and other diseases.
Digestive enzymes
The process of breaking down complex nutrients and aiding their absorption in the gut is facilitated by digestive enzymes. The inclusion of digestive enzyme supplements in a horse’s diet can promote efficient nutrient utilization and digestion. By enhancing nutrient absorption, these enzymes can help maintain a healthy gut environment.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in fish oil and flaxseed and can be added to your horse’s diet safely. Increasing omega-3 intake is known to help reduce inflammatory responses in the body and so is recommended for animals with issues like arthritis. Cell membranes also contain a high-fat content and so providing good quality fats in the diet can help general health and well-being.
Maintaining a balanced gut microbiome is essential when it comes to Keeping a horse healthy. Choosing a supplement or feed additive for your horse can be beneficial if you think they may be at risk of this condition, as a way of promoting good, healthy bacteria and digestion.
