2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

EFFECTS OF A SUPPLEMENT (ALFA-LOX FORAGE â ) ON EQUINE GASTRIC ULCER SCORES AND GASTRIC JUICE PH. Frank Andrews 1 , Pilar Camacho-Luna 1 , Kelsey Bailey 1 , Isabelle Nesen 2 , Michael Keowen 1 , Frank Garza Jr1?^!"number(boolean(following-ibling::degrees))", 1 , Chin-Chi Liu 1 . 1 Equine Health Studies Program, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, 2 Ecole Nationale V et erinaire, Toulouse, France data was used to compare nutritional quality between the two periods. Data were analyzed statistically using an ANOVA for repeated measures and when significant differences were found in the main model, a post-hoc Least Squares Means test was performed to determine significant differences at P < 0.05. Alfa-Lox Forage Ò top-dressed on grain was readily eaten by all horses, and did not result in any adverse effects. When period data were pooled, Alfa-Lox Forage Ò did not have a treatment by day effect on gastric ulcer scores or gastric juice pH during the study period. However, there was an overall period effect on treatment, in that BCS was higher and gastric ulcer scores were lower in the AFLtreated horses during the first period of the study, but no treatment by day effect was seen. Forage analysis showed lower digestible energy in the first period of the study. Other significant effects seen during the study included OME-treatment significantly decreased gastric ulcer scores and increased gastric juice pH in both ALFtreated and control horses and gastric ulcers healed in 6/8 (75%) horses after 14 days of treatment. In addition, gastric ulcer scores significantly increased 2 weeks after OME treatment and after feed-deprivation regardless of treatment. Alfa-Lox Forage Ò had no effect on gastric ulcers scores after OME treatment or during feeddeprivation when compared to untreated controls. However, when forage had lower digestible energy and higher fiber content, Alfa-LoxÒ Forage-fed horses had better BCS and fewer ulcers. Thus, Alfa-Lox Forage Ò might provide gastric support when forage has marginal nutritional value. It should be pointed out that the quantity of Alfa-Lox Forage Ò fed may not have been adequate to affect gastric ulcer scores or gastric juice pH in horses in this study, but other nutritional benefits might result. Neonatal diarrhea is an important disease complex in foals. Diarrhea is associated with significant changes in composition and structure of the microbiota in adult horses. The changes associated with diarrhea in neonatal foals are unknown.