Probiotic Use in Equine Gastrointestinal Disease

Angelika Schoster

doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2017.11.004

Probiotic Use in Equine Gastrointestinal Disease

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2018 Apr;34(1):13-24. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2017.11.004.

Author

Angelika Schoster¹

Affiliation

¹ Vetsuisse Faculty, Equine Department, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland. Electronic address: aschoster@vetclinics.uzh.ch.

PMID: 29402478
DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2017.11.004

Abstract

Probiotics are commonly used in human and veterinary medicine due to their postulated positive effects on overall and specifically gastrointestinal health. Although some beneficial effects have been shown in several human diseases, a general beneficial effect of probiotics is currently not supported. In horses, well-designed studies to date are few, results are conflicting, and the effects of probiotics are questionable. Adverse effects are rare; however, intestinal adverse effects (diarrhea) have been reported in foals. Quality control of over-the-counter probiotics is not tightly regulated, and labels often do not reflect the content.

Keywords: Bifidobacterium; Fecal microbial transplantation; Lactobacillus; Microbiota; Saccharomyces boulardii.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy
Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary*
Horse Diseases / therapy*
Horses
Probiotics / therapeutic use*