Photo: The Horse Staff

Q: I see a lot of supplements these days that contain pro- and prebiotics. Are they necessary, and will they benefit my horse?–via e-mail

A: You’re right, it’s common to find ingredients such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), and yeast in a range of products, some not even aimed at gastrointestinal (GI) health. And when you look at products designed specifically to support GI health, the options are endless. The premise behind these ingredients is that they help support a healthy GI environment. The question: Do they really work?

Probiotics

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Association of Feed Control Officials define probiotics (sometimes referred to as “direct fed microbials”) as a source of live, naturally occurring microorganisms. Probiotics are fed with the goal of enhancing or restoring the beneficial bacteria in the GI tract and are frequently measured in colony forming units (CFUs)