Comments on: Veterinary Probiotics http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2009/06/veterinary-probiotics/ A Vet Takes a Science-Based Look at Complementary and Alternative Medicine Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:51:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Deborah Achen http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2009/06/veterinary-probiotics/comment-page-1/#comment-7191 Deborah Achen Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:59:52 +0000 http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?p=17#comment-7191 Thanks for a reply. It does seem that from what I have read is that it is questionable whether it would reach the gut, or however the physiology works, in horses. Again, the anecdotal stories by the converts say it even stops colic in some horses. So far, I haven't messed with it based on what one of my vets has said as well as the jury is still out. Thought perhaps you may have been familiar with something when I saw your interesting blog site. I had been googled on cold laser - again something that the converts say is wonderful, but the jury is out on that too, so I was skeptical. Thanks for a reply. It does seem that from what I have read is that it is questionable whether it would reach the gut, or however the physiology works, in horses. Again, the anecdotal stories by the converts say it even stops colic in some horses. So far, I haven’t messed with it based on what one of my vets has said as well as the jury is still out. Thought perhaps you may have been familiar with something when I saw your interesting blog site. I had been googled on cold laser – again something that the converts say is wonderful, but the jury is out on that too, so I was skeptical.

]]> By: Bartimaeus http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2009/06/veterinary-probiotics/comment-page-1/#comment-7089 Bartimaeus Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:47:57 +0000 http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?p=17#comment-7089 Probiotics are very popular in the house rabbit community as well, with no probiotics specifically produced for rabbits, and very little evidence for their use. Some rabbit people in the past have used cecal pellets from a healthy rabbit as a "probiotic", again with little scientific evidence, but at least they are using rabbit specific bacteria that way. Since rabbits are hindgut fermenters there are some parallels with horses, but some significant differences as well. Probiotics are very popular in the house rabbit community as well, with no probiotics specifically produced for rabbits, and very little evidence for their use. Some rabbit people in the past have used cecal pellets from a healthy rabbit as a “probiotic”, again with little scientific evidence, but at least they are using rabbit specific bacteria that way. Since rabbits are hindgut fermenters there are some parallels with horses, but some significant differences as well.

]]> By: skeptvet http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2009/06/veterinary-probiotics/comment-page-1/#comment-7065 skeptvet Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:40:49 +0000 http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?p=17#comment-7065 Deborah, Unfortunately, as a small animal vet my experience with horses is quite limited. I agree there is some evidence that probiotics are of benefit to people for antibioti-associated diarrhea, but I'm not sure if that can be safely extrapolated to horses. They have a comlex and not entirely understood GI flora, so tinkering with it is a bit of throwing darts blindfolded. If you have access to an equine veterinarian with an evidence-based perspective, you might ask whether there are any good quality clinical rials in horses to siuggest probiotics would be useful in this situation. I am not aware of any, but again I don't follow the equine literature very closely. Deborah,

Unfortunately, as a small animal vet my experience with horses is quite limited. I agree there is some evidence that probiotics are of benefit to people for antibioti-associated diarrhea, but I’m not sure if that can be safely extrapolated to horses. They have a comlex and not entirely understood GI flora, so tinkering with it is a bit of throwing darts blindfolded. If you have access to an equine veterinarian with an evidence-based perspective, you might ask whether there are any good quality clinical rials in horses to siuggest probiotics would be useful in this situation. I am not aware of any, but again I don’t follow the equine literature very closely.

]]> By: Deborah Achen http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2009/06/veterinary-probiotics/comment-page-1/#comment-6828 Deborah Achen Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:14:40 +0000 http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?p=17#comment-6828 My horse recently had HALS, followed by an antibiotic resistant infection behind the flank-located incision, resulting in the incision re-opening and now a huge and deep hole that has been healing for the past 2 weeks. The third type of antiobiotics used were successful (determined prior to the incision re-opening, a few days post suture removal). He continues on those antibiotics. You mentioned about probiotics being used for diarrhea from use of antibiotics. My horse's manure is fine, but I am wondering with the long-term use of antibiotics (the surgery was a month ago), whether probiotics might ever be indicated? I know in humans (at least women), antibiotics often result in yeast infections. Any risk of that with horses and, if so, are probiotics ever of assistance? My horse recently had HALS, followed by an antibiotic resistant infection behind the flank-located incision, resulting in the incision re-opening and now a huge and deep hole that has been healing for the past 2 weeks. The third type of antiobiotics used were successful (determined prior to the incision re-opening, a few days post suture removal). He continues on those antibiotics. You mentioned about probiotics being used for diarrhea from use of antibiotics. My horse’s manure is fine, but I am wondering with the long-term use of antibiotics (the surgery was a month ago), whether probiotics might ever be indicated? I know in humans (at least women), antibiotics often result in yeast infections. Any risk of that with horses and, if so, are probiotics ever of assistance?

]]> By: Primal Defense-An example of why I am suspicious of probiotics. « The SkeptVet Blog http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2009/06/veterinary-probiotics/comment-page-1/#comment-695 Primal Defense-An example of why I am suspicious of probiotics. « The SkeptVet Blog Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:28:39 +0000 http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?p=17#comment-695 [...] those who have read what I have previously written about probiotics, you’ll know that I am cautiously optimistic about their potential usefulness as a medical [...] [...] those who have read what I have previously written about probiotics, you’ll know that I am cautiously optimistic about their potential usefulness as a medical [...]

]]> By: Nutraceuticals and Cognitive Dysfunction « The SkeptVet Blog http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2009/06/veterinary-probiotics/comment-page-1/#comment-203 Nutraceuticals and Cognitive Dysfunction « The SkeptVet Blog Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:49:26 +0000 http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?p=17#comment-203 [...] with probiotics, these remedies fall in an intermediate category between CAM and scientific medicine. There is [...] [...] with probiotics, these remedies fall in an intermediate category between CAM and scientific medicine. There is [...]

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