ANTIBIOTICS AND GUT FLORA?????

["Janet Baca" <horsetrl@ctaz.com>]

I was also advised to give yogurt, two cups a day of the flavored kind after
being on penicillin at two separate times for the injury on his nose.  I did
mention getting probiotics and the vet thought the yogurt would be good
enough.   Is yogurt a poor substitute for probiotics?  I would be very
interested to know.

Janet Baca

Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 14:46:02 -0700
From: "Steph Teeter" <step@fsr.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Subject: Fw: ANTIBIOTICS AND GUT FLORA?????
Message-ID: <001901bdf497$6129a480$72f2f5c7@flounder.fsr.com>
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<this query is being forwarded for Sheri Thompson - please send
responses to the ridecamp list so that she can view them through
the archives. thanks, Steph>


>
>Message:  My horse was on antibiotics on two separate occassions to clear
up a
>scratches infection.  Both times while on the antibiotics while either
doing
>an endurance ride or training on a long ride he colicked (gas colic).  I
was
>told by several veterinarians that the antibiotics had killed off my horses
>gut flora  (the good stuff) and now he has only gas producing bacteria (the
>bad stuff) in his gut.  My horse is now on large amounts of probiotics and
>Forco.  I am looking for anyone with any similar experiences that might
help
>me or ease the mystery with this problem.  I let my horse rest for 4 weeks
>after the second gas colic episode (with only turn outs and hand walking)
and
>then I started him back slowly (riding-walking only-about 4 miles every 2-3
>days) and after the first week of starting him back, when he felt really
good,
>I let him trot a little but 24 hours later he acted slightly uncomfortable
>i.e. popping his lips together, yawning-all the usuaal signs he shows when
he
>is a little gassy.  So I am now letting him rest again for 2-3 weeks and I
>will start riding him at a walk again.  Can anyone that has ever had this
>problem tell me how long it took their horse to recover totally and what
they
>did to help the horse recover from this problem.  Any information regarding
>this would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Sheri Thompson