AlvuSana
Science led monitoring of animal gut health
Precision from within
Horse GI issues are the main cause of emergency call-outs, the main cause of insurance claims and the main cause of death in domestic horses.
Horse management is often not 'gut' friendly, as their guts were designed to trickle feed. Domestic horses instead can be receive high starch meals interspersed with limited access to forage. Older horses may receive high levels of anti-inflammatories that irritate and damage gut walls. These management issues may be coupled with demanding athletic performance, stressful environments and extensive travel. Many of the common GI issues are associated with chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction and microbiome dysbiosis. The table below illustrates how our markers are associated with common gut health problems.
Broad Category | Examples | Description | Typical Symptoms | Inflammation Markers | Mucosal Immune Markers | Altered Microbiome | Relative Health Burden in Managed Horses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inflammatory Disorders | Gastric Ulcers, Gastritis, enteritis, colitis, IFEE, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) | Primary inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by immune-mediated disease, infection or mucosal injury. | Diarrhoea, recurrent colic, weight loss, poor performance, fever, reduced appetite | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Very High |
Microbiome & Barrier Disorders | Dysbiosis, leaky gut, protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), free faecal water syndrome (FFWS) | Alterations in the gut microbiome or intestinal barrier promoting chronic inflammation and immune activation. | Loose faeces, free faecal water, weight loss, poor body condition, recurrent colic, poor performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | High |
Infectious Disorders | Salmonellosis, Clostridial colitis, coronavirus enteritis, Lawsonia intracellularisinfection | Infection by bacteria or viruses causing intestinal inflammation and disruption of the microbiome | Fever, diarrhoea, dehydration, depression, endotoxaemia, colic | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Low |
Parasitic Disorders | Cyathostominosis, strongylosis, tapeworm infection, ascarid infection | Gastrointestinal disease caused by parasites damaging the intestinal wall or competing for nutrients. | Weight loss, diarrhoea, recurrent colic, poor body condition, poor performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | Low-Moderate |
Mechanical Disorders | Gas colic, impaction, displacement, volvulus, enterolithiasis | Physical obstruction, twisting or displacement of the intestine resulting in pain and reduced intestinal transit. | Acute colic, rolling, reduced faecal output, distension, reduced gut sounds | ★★☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | High |
Functional Disorders | Ileus, post-operative ileus, intestinal motility disorders | Abnormal gastrointestinal motility without a physical obstruction. Can occur following surgery, inflammation or systemic illness. | Reduced gut sounds, abdominal distension, colic, reduced faecal output, gastric reflux | ★★☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Low |
Neoplastic Disorders | Intestinal lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyoma | Tumours affecting the gastrointestinal tract, leading to chronic inflammation, malabsorption or obstruction. | Chronic weight loss, recurrent colic, diarrhoea, poor condition, reduced appetite | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Low |