Compositions and methods for reducing the incidence of equine digestive disorders

1. A method for reducing the incidence of recurrent colic refractory to treatment in an equine, the method comprising

a. identifying an equine in need of treatment for recurrent colic refractory to treatment, and

b. administering a combination of composition A and composition B to the equine, or a combination of composition A and composition C to the equine, wherein

i. composition A comprises at least about 60% soluble fiber, yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, and a live Enterococcus species,

ii. composition B comprises yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, a live Enterococcus species, a protease, a cellulase, and an alpha-amylase; and

iii. composition C comprises yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, a live Enterococcus species, and calcium.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

a. composition A comprises between about 75 million cfu of yeast to about 85 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition A, between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus, between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 0.8 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 1.2 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 2.5 to about 3.5 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , between about 0.2 to about 0.6 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , and psyllium seed husk, such that composition A comprises between about 2% to about 6% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 6% and 10% crude fiber; and

b. composition B comprises composition B comprises between about 1000 million cfu of yeast to about 1200 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition A, between about 60 million and about 70 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus , between about 40 million and about 50 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 12 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 14 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 40 to about 50 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , between about 5 to about 7 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , and psyllium seed husk, such that composition B comprises between about 6% to about 10% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 4% and 8% crude fiber.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein

a. composition A comprises between about 75 million cfu of yeast to about 85 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition A, between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus , between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 0.8 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 1.2 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 2.5 to about 3.5 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , between about 0.2 to about 0.6 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , and psyllium seed husk, such that composition A comprises between about 2% to about 6% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 6% and 10% crude fiber; and

b. composition C comprises between about 500 million cfu of yeast to about 600 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition C, between about 25 million and about 35 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus , between about 15 million and about 25 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 4 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 8 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 18 to about 26 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , and between about 2 to about 4 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , such that composition C comprises between about 3% to about 7% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 3% and 7% crude fiber.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recurrent colic refractory to treatment is eliminated.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein composition A is fed in the evening and composition B is fed in the morning.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein composition A is fed daily for about five weeks, and then alternately not fed for three weeks and fed for a week.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein composition A comprises psyllium seed husk, wheat mill run, molasses, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product, sodium silicoaluminate, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Brewers dried yeast, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles, and natural and artificial flavoring.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein composition B comprises dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product, sodium silicoaluminate, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Brewers dried yeast, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles, psyllium seed husk, and natural and artificial flavoring.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recurrent colic is high frequency recurrent colic.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recurrent colic is medium frequency recurrent colic.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recurrent colic is low frequency recurrent colic.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein composition A is fed in the evening and composition C is fed in the morning and the evening.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein composition C comprises calcium carbonate, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product, sodium silicoaluminate, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, psyllium seed husk, calcium carbonate, dextrose, Brewers dried yeast, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles, natural and artificial flavoring, sodium ascorbate, licorice root powder, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, anise oil, and mineral oil.

14. A method for reducing the incidence of recurrent diarrhea in an equine, the method comprising

a. identifying an equine in need of treatment for recurrent diarrhea, and

b. administering a combination of composition A and composition B to the equine, or a combination of composition A and composition C to the equine, wherein

i. composition A comprises at least about 60% soluble fiber, yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, and a live Enterococcus species,

ii. composition B comprises yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, a live Enterococcus species, a protease, a cellulase, and an alpha-amylase; and

iii. composition C comprises yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, a live Enterococcus species, and calcium.

15. A method of claim 14 , wherein

a. composition A comprises between about 75 million cfu of yeast to about 85 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition A, between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus , between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 0.8 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 1.2 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 2.5 to about 3.5 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , between about 0.2 to about 0.6 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , and psyllium seed husk, such that composition A comprises between about 2% to about 6% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 6% and 10% crude fiber; and

b. composition B comprises composition B comprises between about 1000 million cfu of yeast to about 1200 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition A, between about 60 million and about 70 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus , between about 40 million and about 50 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 12 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 14 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 40 to about 50 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , between about 5 to about 7 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , and psyllium seed husk, such that composition B comprises between about 6% to about 10% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 4% and 8% crude fiber.

16. A method for normalizing intestinal motility in an equine, the method comprising

a. identifying an equine in need of treatment for intestinal hypermotility or hypomotility, and

b. administering a combination of composition A and composition B to the equine, or a combination of composition A and composition C to the equine, wherein

i. composition A comprises at least about 60% soluble fiber, yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, and a live Enterococcus species,

ii. composition B comprises yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, a live Enterococcus species, a protease, a cellulase, and an alpha-amylase; and

iii. composition C comprises yeast, a live Lactobacillus species, a live Enterococcus species, and calcium.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein

a. composition A comprises between about 75 million cfu of yeast to about 85 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition A, between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus , between about 2 million and about 10 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 0.8 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 1.2 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 2.5 to about 3.5 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , between about 0.2 to about 0.6 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , and psyllium seed husk, such that composition A comprises between about 2% to about 6% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 6% and 10% crude fiber; and

b. composition B comprises composition B comprises between about 1000 million cfu of yeast to about 1200 million cfu of yeast per gram of composition A, between about 60 million and about 70 million cfu/g Lactobacillus acidophilus , between about 40 million and about 50 million cfu/g Enterococcus faecium , between about 12 HUT/g (hemoglobin units on tyrosine beads/g) to about 14 HUT/g of protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae , between about 40 to about 50 MWU/g (modified Wohlgemuth units) of alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus subtilis , between about 5 to about 7 CU/g (cellulase units/g) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma longibrachiatum , and psyllium seed husk, such that composition B comprises between about 6% to about 10% crude protein, between about 0.5% and 1.5% crude fat, and between about 4% and 8% crude fiber.