Mod 3

This was a post made regards founderguard some time ago.I've copied it out of a post that was made a long long time ago as it might explain a few things.The post was made by QH Convert.

Founderguard contains an antibiotic called virginiamycin that is effective against a bacteria called Streptococcus bovis. If there is a lot of fermentation happening in the large intestine, the pH drops and the inside of the gut becomes more acidic. Streptococcus bovis thrives in acid environment and starts to multiply, whilst at the same time the other bacteria start to die (the good bacteria that ferment fibre can't survive in an acidic environment). when Streptococcus bovis ferments food, it produces more acid and so the gut becomes more acidic and then you get more Streptococcus bovis and less good fibre fermenting bacteria. so Streptociccus bovis multiplies even more then the Streptococcus bovis makes more acid, more good bacteria die and the cycle goes on - its a vicious cycle. eventually the good bacteria have been replaced by Strep bovis and the inside of the gut is so acidic that the other bacteria die en mass. when the good bacteria die, they release toxins. the belief is that the toxins from the dead bacteria are absorbed into the blood and this causes the inflammation in the foot and the breakdown of the join between the pedal bone and the hoof tissue.

founderguard helps prevent laminitis related to low pH (or rather high acid) in the large inestine due to high grain diets and grasses high in fructans (sugars). if you want to do more reading and want some scientific papers, here are some references on virginiamycin in horses you might like to chase up (i haven't checked the links in some time):

Rowe JB, Lees MJ, Pethick DW. (1994) Prevention of acidosis and laminitis associated with grain feeding in horses. Journal of Nutrition Dec;124(12 Suppl):2742S-2744S.

Rowe JB, Pethick DW and Johnson K.G. (1995)Controlling acidosis in the equine hindgut. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia: July 1995 pages 136-143
available at: Redirect Notice

Johnson KG, Tyrrell J, Rowe JB, Pethick DW. (1988) Behavioural changes in stabled horses given nontherapeutic levels of virginiamycin. Equine Veterinary Journal. Mar;30(2):139-43.

Bailey SR, Baillon ML, Rycroft AN, Harris PA, Elliott J. (2003) Identification of equine cecal bacteria producing amines in an in vitro model of carbohydrate overload. Applied Environmental Microbiology Apr;69(4):2087-93.

Bailey SR, Rycroft A, Elliott J. (2002) Production of amines in equine cecal contents in an in vitro model of carbohydrate overload. Journal of Animal Science. Oct;80(10):2656-62.
available at: Production of amines in equine cecal contents in an in vitro model of carbohydrate overload -- Bailey et al. 80 (10): 2656 -- Journal of Animal Science

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