Probios update from SmartPak

[Lori B]

I feed my horse the Probios probiotic supplement from SmartPak. Just got this e-mail from them:

Vets Plus, Inc. Animal Health & Nutrition has adjusted the recommended maintenance dosage for the Probios Powder. They have doubled the amount for the maintenance dose from 5 grams to 10 grams. The new price for the 10 gram dose of Probios Powder is $16.40. Your horse(s) will continue to receive the same dosage that they had previously been getting, unless we hear otherwise from you.

Questions: do you think this is necessary, or am I being very subtly guilted into buying more Probios?

Anyone recommend another probiotic available though SmartPak that is less than $16.40 a month and similarly effective and good?

Can anyone who knows more about such things comment on this?

Equine nutrition. Need to take a danged class in this so I don't feel so clueless about questions like this.

[jumperpony]

Can't help you with an answer, but I'm interested in this as well. I feed the same thing and also got that email. For now I'm going to just stick with the original dosing I think.

Interestingly, for about the span of a month my horse was getting twice the amount of the probiotic without my knowledge (for some reason someone at the barn took it upon themself to feed my horse her supps in the AM, while I was doing it in the PM). It didn't seem to make any difference in her digestion that I could tell.

[Sentry Chick]

I use ProBio's myself but not through Smart Pack. I've being feeding my guy the big scoop for months now as it was recommended to me to do so from a Equine Massage Therapist who's noticed a big change in horses fed a double dose. Those that are fed a double dose, that does not harm them in anyway, responded better to massage and rode better after being switched over.
I buy the small container, 240 G at $8.95. When I was feeding it to 2 horses, it lasted 1 month, so now that I'm feeding just the one, it'll last me 2 months. I have always found that buying the supplements myself at my feed store, it's much cheaper than Smart Packs. But it's more convenient if you board your horse to use SP.

[Cherry]

I used ProBios powder for several months and never felt that the amount the company recommended was enough, at least for my horse (a small TB).... I don't understand why it took them so long to figure it out.

I've managed to find a better probiotic that isn't as expensive--not all probiotics are created equal. I was underwhelmed with the results from the ProBios.... :uhoh:

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

I've seen a major difference in a very high strung, ulcery TB gelding after he was switched from Probios (every horse on the property was on double maintanence and did well except for crazy boy!) to the Fasttrack probiotic. I'm not sure about price difference, but I would use this product again in a heartbeat if I had a stressy horse!

ETA: I also started a friends horse on double dose probios after colic surgery (small resection), as well as my own while on doxy/oxytet for lyme. I found the old maintenece dose is fine if there are no "problems", but anything that would kill the flora (powerpacing, meds, surgery, etc) needs the double dose.

[Lori B]

Horse is 6, has only had one very minor semi-colic scare that responded to meds almost instantly, is an air fern, and gets farrier's formula concentrate, stressdex, and probios for supps. She gets a couple hands full of sweet feed (I'm sorry, I don't remember the mix of nutrients in it) 2x a day, and hay and has good grass in her turnout.

I started her on probios when she was on doxy for lyme's this past spring, and as I'd read that probiotics were a good colic preventative, just kept her on it after the doxy was over.

I will look into the fasttrack.

I know things are cheaper if you don't do smartpak, but making life easier for my BM is a sacred mission to me. She is great, and I don't want to make her do busy work that isn't strictly necessary.

[Ride'emCO]

I'm using Ultra-Elite Digest (formerly GI Conditioner), through Smartpak at $10.36 per month. It's in pellet form, which I like a lot.

[Loves to ride]

I'll ditto the recommendation for the Ultra-Elite Digest from U.S. Animal Nutritionals (also available through SmartPak).

It's pelleted which is an added bonus for those horses who think anything powdered is poison.

[Lori B]

Ride-em VA, will look at that one. Thanks!

Cherry, which one did you like better?

[Lori B]

My horse will probably eat anything that we put in her bucket that is remotely similar to dinner. When on doxy, it was not necessary to grind up her pills, she just snarfed them down, since they were on top of her sweet feed. :-)

[gabz]

I remember reading in Horse Journal, I think it was, that the majority of pro-biotic supplements are dosed at far less than they should be.

In the newest book by Dr. Eleanor Kellon on Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals, she says the same thing about the majority of probiotics.

So I would guess that the company took this under advisement and is increasing the recommended dose. Others may follow.

I've always used Ration Plus - which is highly rated by Horse Journal and Dr.Kellon.

[Lori B]

Well, I switched to Ultra-Elite Digest, for her November batch of supps. Thanks, will let you know how it goes.

[Kementari]

I'm getting the results I'm looking for (weight maintenance!) on the "old" dose, so I see no reason to up it for my guy. If it ain't broke, and all that... ;)

(BTW, I've also used Fastrack (or however they spell it...), and like ProBios- which I switched to because I was going away for awhile and Fastrack doesn't come in SmartPaks - better. I think it's an individual thing! :yes:)

[Melyni]

Probiotics are innoculants of bacteria, once the population is established you should not need to keep inoculating. Unless you do something to upset the population, like wormers or give antibiotics or some such.
Pre biotics (Diamond V yeast etc) are for the support of the existing bacteria and can be fed on a continual basis.

Try changing from the probiotic to a pre biotic and see if the horse stays in good shape then just use the probiotics when you need them.
Now some horses do need them all the time, but most don't. Experiment to see what your horses does best on.
Yours
MW

[Lori B]

Thanks, melyni, that makes sense.
I notice that the Ultra-Elite Digest contains both pre- and probiotics.

That is some string of degrees that you have :-)

[SSFLandon]

I'm using Ultra-Elite Digest (formerly GI Conditioner), through Smartpak at $10.36 per month. It's in pellet form, which I like a lot.


I also found Digest to work great on a horse that was on and off bute who would have a runny stool. I also don't use probios however, I do use the products made by Equerry.

http://www.equerrys.com/probiotic.htm

[Watermark Farm]

I remember reading in Horse Journal, I think it was, that the majority of pro-biotic supplements are dosed at far less than they should be.



I have always been told the same, so when feeding Probios, I give 10-20 grams per day, and 40 grams (20 grams 2x daily) during stressful periods, illness, shipping etc.

Advanced Biological Concepts makes a great product (ABCs plus), but I find I wind up using Probios because I go through 5-8 lbs/month!

What other probiotic supplement is readily available and economical to feed for someone like me who has 8 horses all getting daily probiotics?

[rocknK]

I use Equerrys as well. It has a rather larger scooper, don't know how many grams but it looks to be at least two oz. by weight. I double dose for several days after worming.

[snopbobil]

Did any of you who use Probios know that in there gel they use Ethoxyguin as a preservative, it's the most toxic chemical preservative out there, a by product of the rubber industry, it doesn't look like they use it in there powder formula.

[Auventera Two]

I have fed Probios for several months and always doubled the dosage because it just didn't seem like enough to me. I can buy it at our local tack shop so I don't have to order it.

[Tee]

I like the Equerry's as well - just not sure how widely available they are.