1. Aren't bugs responsible for the fermentation that is causing the gas?
2. Aren't there several different varieties of bugs whose proportion
change depending on the food that is eaten? Isn't that why rapid food
changes sometimes lead to colic and laminitis?
3. Could some bugs cause more gas than others?
Any research behind any of this?
Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net
----------
> From: Susan F. Evans <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>
> To: Phil Woods <prw@okway.okstate.edu>
> Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: Re: Gut sounds
> Date: Thursday, December 12, 1996 1:15 PM
>
> Hi Phil,
>
> I'm a little at a loss to understand how you managed to deduce from my
> post re probiotics that I am trying to "mask" the
> physiological status of my horse, am being conned, am deluding myself or
> am endangering my horse. I agree that dehydration and shunting of blood
> away from the gut is a major contributor in diminished motility, I never
> said that they weren't. However, fermenting feed will produce excessive
> gas in the gut if it doesn't keep moving---such as if motility is
> diminished through blood shunting during stressful exercise, or am I
> incorrect? Since it is bacteria in the hindgut that is responsible for
> the breakdown of fiber and to some extent carbohydrates, would you not
> agree that increased bacterial populations would contribute to digestive
> efficiency? Therefore, a gut that breaks down feed more efficiently
> during stressful activity I would think is less likely to have problems
> with excessive gas, and last I checked, gas in the gut around here is
> called "colic".
>
> I never said that probiotics will maintain gut integrity all by itself
> despite other contributory causes, even though "gut sounds" was the
> general topic at hand. Please excuse me for not being more exacting in
> my wording. My only point was that IMHO, probiotics increase feed
> efficiency and I think that is a good thing for a horse, before, during
> or after a ride. The several dozen research articles published on it
> over the past twenty years which I believe pretty strongly support the
> benefits of probiotics in a variety of situations, so please exxcuse me
> if I do not feel that I am being "conned" or am "deluding" myself. If
> you haven't seen the research, I'd be happy to send you the references.
>
> Phil, I never claim to be the last word on anything and I am more than
> willing and happy to discuss any subject and learn from it, especially
> if I have, in fact, misunderstood or misinterpreted what I have been
> taught. However, would you not agree that we are all better served by
> discussing the topic in a non-accusatory manner, rather than leaping to
> conclusions and assuming that I am purposely trying to endanger my horse
> and "mask" the signs of stress simply to get "A's" on my vet card? (For
> that matter, I don't think the vets are that dumb---it takes more than a
> noisy gut to get all "A's", or at least it sure does around here.)
>
> If you're looking for a snowstorm, Phil, open a window. I live in
> California because I prefer the sun.
>
> Susan Evans
> Equine Research Center
> California State Polytechnic University
>
>
>
>
> Phil Woods wrote:
> >
> > Gut sounds become reduced during a ride, in large part, because of
> > dehydration, redistribution of body fluids and alterations in body
> > electrolyte concentrations, not because the horse has a deficiency
of
> > bugs. Adding bugs to the horse may make its gurgling sounds a tad
> > louder (although I doubt it), but will not improve
gastrointestinal
> > motility or the general clinical picture, ie it is a con to think
that
> > you are improving matters or helping the horse. So if you are
giving
> > probiotics or what-ever merely to get an "A" on gut sounds, I feel
> > that you are deluding yourself, potentially putting the horse in
> > danger by trying to mask a lack of gastrointestinal motility, and
> > effectively using a substance (probiotics) in an attempt to mask
the
> > underlying real status of the horse's gastrointestinal sounds and
> > hence physiological status of the horse as it proceeds through the
> > ride ("Cosequin riders"!!!!).
> >
> > I await the snowstorm.
> >
> > Phil Woods.
> >