Because symptoms are an unreliable indicator of GI health, practitioners should test horses periodically. Given the ease and affordability of the FBT, testing all horses on a regular schedule is a practical option for early detection – making the SUCCEED® FBT may be an important part of a veterinarian’s wellness program.
Consistent testing is especially important for performance horses, or wherever the care, feeding and general husbandry are less than ideal for digestive health, including intermittent feeding, high-grain diets, stall confinement, etc. Because it is possible that GI health may be a root cause of many performance or behavioral problems, horses with such issues may be prime candidates for testing.
Regular testing of clients’ horses, even those assumed to be in good digestive health, may provide an opportunity for veterinarians to educate their clients about digestive health issues that may otherwise go undiagnosed, especially less well-understood conditions such as colonic ulcers. And, early detection of digestive tract conditions may help avoid more serious health risks, improving the practitioner’s reputation in the process.
