How the journey begins…
Our vision
To provide gut microbiota and nutrition analysis as a service to the equine industry, optimising horse health
What do we need to do?
The healthy equine gastrointestinal microbiota is yet to be mapped using whole genome sequencing, which is the process of determining all the DNA sequences present in this environment. To achieve this, we need to explore the microorganisms contained in the microbiome of at least 200 healthy horses. This group will contain horses of all ages, breeds and disciplines.
These healthy horses will undergo a range of diagnostic tests such as blood, faecal egg counts, and gastroscopy to confirm their health before we get a window into their gut via our microbiota DNA testing.
This investigation will form the basis for our control database, to ensure that no matter what age or breed your horse is, we will have a healthy comparison.
With every test that is run, we will learn more about the equine microbiota in health and disease, enabling us to start exploring how changes link to common problems, effective interventions, and how disease can be prevented through early identification of “at risk” horses and action.
What will our service look like?
The service will be ordered online. Simply fill out a quick questionnaire on our website, and we will send you a sample collection kit. Collect a faecal sample from your horse and send it back to us for analysis.
The sample will be compared to our healthy horse database. Once analysis is completed, a report will be sent to inform you of the identified deficiencies in your horse’s gastrointestinal microbiome, as well as a nutritional analysis with simple, easy to understand suggestions to improve your horse’s gut health. In addition, our expert team will provide a 15-minute consultation to explain the results and answer any questions you may have.
Performing base line testing, or regular interval testing, will allow you to track gut health in correlation with clinical health or performance.
The problems our service will address.
Disease.
Gut dysbiosis (an imbalance in the microbes in the gut) contributes to many problems including colic, poor performance, tying up, laminitis, equine metabolic syndrome and behavioural issues.
Poor performance.
Loss of performance is often a result of poor gut health.
Fatality.
Gastrointestinal issues are a major cause of equine fatality in Australia. Treatments are expensive and a temporary solution.
Increasing drug resistance.
Over-administration of many medications is leading to resistance issues, and other adverse impacts on horse health.
Reactionary treatment.
Most equine veterinarians are called upon to treat problems, instead of being able to proactively optimise health. Preventative healthcare is predominantly limited to vaccinations, dentals and deworming.
Welfare.
Horses with gut diseases are unhappy, which makes their people unhappy!
Register your horse.
Equine Integrated Health are searching for suitable candidates to participate in our research. If you believe your horse epitomises good health, we invite you to register and join us on the quest for equine wellness.