Re: RE: Re: pulses and gut sounds

["Mieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

When I do use probiotics, it isn't an immediate fix though I HAVE seen them
help a horse in distress and have brought more than one horse around from a
mild colic using just probi and walking (while husband scrambled around
countryside to buy Banamine and mineral oil).  I don't think it's the "bugs"
however that work right away in that case.  I understand it takes a certain
amount of time for digestion and there's just no way it makes it to the
hindgut and starts reseeding that hindgut within minutes.  However, there
are herbal ingredients in pro bi and I have often wondered if those things
help soothe the stomach or send a signal somewhere that gets the blood flow
started back to digestion???  I notice that besides lactobacillus
acidophilus, it also contains aloe vera, peppermint, ginger, dandelion and
violet leaves.  We have probably all at one time or another used pepto
bismol for an upset stomach or had our moms force some ginger ale down our
throats (it was years after my appendectomy before I could even SMELL ginger
ale without feeling ill!).  So, these are just some thoughts...I do feel pro
bi has its merits and I'll never be without it, but I do feel we need to use
it judiciously and not indiscriminately...I believe Roger Rittenhouse did
his own one rat studies where he observed how his horses performed with more
or less of the stuff????  It must be in the archives somewhere if someone
cares to look it up or get ahold of Roger and ask him.  Used to be I dosed
the horses a LOT with it but after he posted his findings, I started using
it less and less and have just as good or better results.  Pro bi won't
jumpstart gut sounds at the end of a ride but if you know ahead that gut
activity may be diminishing, you need to give it BEFORE a vet check, even
out on the trail.  It's NOT a quick fix as many people believe. And, as most
horses are individuals, it probably doesn't work the same with every horse.
And it also is NOT a substitute for eating and drinking!!  OK, that's all I
got to say 'bout that!  :)
Maggie Mieske
McBain, Michigan
----- Original Message -----
From: Steph Teeter <steph@endurance.net>
To: LAURIE AND WADE PEARSON <WADEPEARSON@worldnet.att.net>
Cc: RIDECAMP <RIDECAMP@endurance.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 12:50 AM
Subject: RC: RE: Re: pulses and gut sounds


> >>But the gut sounds where my concern. She did not want to eat at the
> v-checks. My last loop I was very worried about her. Some one said give
her
> probiotics it will give her gut sounds. I just don't want to give her gut
> sounds, I want them to work properly. So when I reached a big field down
the
> trail, I pulled her off and let her graze for 20 minutes. At the next
creek
> we paused for a while and she drank real good. I put her bit back in and
off
> we went.>>
>
> I would bet that it was the rest and drink that did the trick. Once the
> demand from the muscles subsided, the rest of the system could
> get it's share of blood flow. The eating might help a little, but
> it's a while before the grass is converted to energy. Anybody
> know to what degree eating will stimulate gut activity?
> I think the probiotics have their place, but I can NOT understand how
> they could effect a 'quick fix'.
>
> Steph
>
>
>
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