Dietary mitigation of antibiotic-induced changes in equine hindgut bacteria

Our long term goal is to devise dietary interventions that will allow the normal microbial community of the gastrointestinal tract to compete against pathogenic bacteria during antibiotic therapy. One possible intervention is the administration of a probiotic (a preparation containing live bacteria believed to be beneficial to the digestive tract) to horses at the time that antibiotic therapy is initiated. Another intervention is to feed a diet that promotes the growth of beneficial organisms and discourages the growth of pathogens. Studies conducted in other types of animals suggest that diets that are restricted in protein, higher in fiber and lower in rapidly fermentable carbohydrates hold the most promise.