Hind Gut Acidosis and GastroEase™

Hind Gut Acidosis is the name assigned to a condition in the hind gut of horses created by rapid digestion of highly concentrated grain ration.

Starch and carbohydrate digestion is accomplished by fermentation in the equine hind gut. This process requires a large population of “beneficial” microbes in the gut flora to break down and digest the starches and carbohydrates.

When there is an overload of digestive activity caused by intake of a large grain or grass ration, the increased fermentation process acidifies the ph of the hind gut, killing a large number of the beneficial microbes. As these microbes die, they give off endotoxins which are absorbed in the blood stream and can potentially create toxemias or trigger a laminitis event.

Acidosis is now suspected as a contributing cause in hind gut colitis, diarrhea, enteritis, gassy colics, and some types of laminitis. Preventing this change in hind gut ph will certainly benefit your horse.

Suggested preventative feeding protocols include regular feedings of high quality hay at six hour intervals, care in changing feeds and feeding schedules, constantly available water, and replacing high starch and carbohydrate feeds with extruded high fat concentrates.

Daily feeding of GASTROEASE can support prevention of hind gut acidosis by providing a daily supplemental source of Pancrelipase, an enzyme that contains amylase. Amylase is reported to aid starch and carbohydrate digestion and is an effective aid in preventing hind gut acidosis.

(Animal Feed Science and Technology Volume 114, Issues 1-4, 3 May 2004, Pages 295-305 )