Humans use probiotics for various reasons, including treatment/ management of infectious diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis), gastric ulceration, tooth decay/ periodontal disease, vaginal infections, skin infections, and even in the treatment of certain cancers.3 Horse owners and veterinarians administer prebiotics and probiotics to horses primarily for GI-related concerns (i.e., diarrhea), to encourage the growth of the good microbes, and to minimize the invasion and growth of disease-causing bacteria.

For example, antibiotic administration, stress, transport, abrupt dietary changes, and Clostridium spp. or Salmonella spp. infections can potentially alter the normal microbe population in a horse’s large intestine. Some owners therefore elect to administer prebiotics and/or probiotics to horses that are being treated with systemic antibiotics, have developed diarrhea, are off feed, and prior to shipping or another stressful event.