Tharos News — Acidosis

Harry Paul
Hindgut acidosis in horses

Why is hindgut acidosis dangerous in horses?

Hind-gut Acidosis can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-standing). An example of acute hind-gut acidosis would be the pony who breaks out of his stable and gets into the feed room. He gorges feed, and the result is a massive overflow of starch into the hind-gut. There is a sudden reduction in the pH of the hind-gut, and the healthy bacteria in the gut get very stressed at the change in pH, and begin to die. As they die they release toxins which are absorbed into the blood of the pony. These toxins result in an inflammatory response by the body which can...

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