Pro biotics - slippery elm?

[MyBoyChe]

Does anyone have any experience of feeding this please. I have been recommended to feed a pro biotic to help calm and settle a very runny bum (horses, not mine in case you were wondering!) and my local feed merchant suggested feeding slippery elm when I spoke to him. I am fairly sure the cause is too much grass as we still have tons of the stuff, it is fetlock deep in his field and he has been out 24/7 up til last weekend. Any thoughts on this or anything else that may help please. I currently add a mag supplement and brewers yeast to his feed.

 

[Dizzydancer]

A few on my yard have this problem the grass is very wet at mo around me and quite long as just moved to winter fields. I fed my boy pro biotic yoghurt Yeovel natural from the supermarket, its much cheaper he loved it probably going to be told its bad for him but i give it to my stomach issues prone newfoundland too!! It worked a treat for both within a couple of weeks.

 

[Bojangles]

A few on my yard have this problem the grass is very wet at mo around me and quite long as just moved to winter fields. I fed my boy pro biotic yoghurt Yeovel natural from the supermarket, its much cheaper he loved it probably going to be told its bad for him but i give it to my stomach issues prone newfoundland too!! It worked a treat for both within a couple of weeks.

I had the same problem used the Tescos value one works the same and it's cheaper!!

 

[LucyPriory]

Probiotics and slippery elm are not the same thing.

I often add YeaSacc (a probiotic) to my horses feed when the balance of bacteria in her cecum may have been or is disturbed.

I would feed slipperly elm if I thought she were suffering from damage to the lining of her cecum or was a bit stressy (and therefore prone to ulcers).

If you are not sure of your ground with these products I'd advise consulting your vet, especially if the horse in question is being treated for anything.

An extract about slippery elm

Slippery elm contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. It coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines; it also contains antioxidants that help relieve inflammatory bowel conditions. Slippery elm also causes reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased mucus secretion. The increased mucus production may protect the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity.

 

[ImogenBurrows]

Probiotics and slippery elm are not the same thing.

Slippery elm contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. It coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines; it also contains antioxidants that help relieve inflammatory bowel conditions. Slippery elm also causes reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased mucus secretion. The increased mucus production may protect the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity.

Thanks!! I didn't know what it was!!

 

[Angelbones]

I use it for one pony who has ulcers, but doesn't have Gastroguard. Haven't noticed any difference in him at all to be honest! I don't give it solely for the ulcers, but again on any other front I don't seem to have seen any improvement

If you do a search on here you'll find a useful thread where it is discussed, and some experienced users give dosage, suppliers etc.

 

[deicinmerlyn]

Mag ox can contribute/cause loose droppings too.

 

[Spinal Tap]

My mare had an encysted redworm infestation a couple of years back which I believe was behind a couple of attacks of colic, general grouchyness & also loss of condition/topline. I gave her a course of slippery elm to try & settle her gut down. It's hard to say catagorically whether it worked because I have also been feeding probiotic (Pink Powder) to her, but she did pick up substantially (perhaps too well - she is about the size of a house now ) and her gut has been a lot more settled since she had the slippery elm.