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This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease »
  Discussion on Yeast & R.A.O.
Author Message
New Member:
suse

Posted on Saturday, Jun 9, 2007 - 10:57 am:

Hi Dr. O.
I have a question that might seem silly, but I want to eliminate a possibility. Could adding yeast in a powdered form to a horse's diet compromise recovery/treatment from R.A.O.? The reason I ask is due to the origin of yeast; although I suspect processing eliminates any harmful reactivity the spores or microbes would cause. He is on sweet feed right now, and is being switched to an all-inclusive pellet form of feed. I was just wondering........???

Thanks for your time!

Sue
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 6:58 am:

Hmmm, it is not the microbial activity of the mold spores that stimulates the RAO but the shape of the molecules on the surface. Generally this shape is very specific for an organism and the hay molds and yeast are not the same organism. However I cannot rule it out altogether if the yeast becomes aerosolized during feeding.
DrO
New Member:
suse

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 9:29 am:

Thank you. This information is very valuable, as my horse has been getting powdered yeast in his grain where he is boarded. We have since insisted on pelleted feed that we supply, with no powdered mineral or yeast added (as she was doing - thinking it was necessary - "all the horses get this"). We have a very delicate situation at the barn - the owner is a 75 yr. old woman who can outrun the best of us, with a heart of gold, and treats us like family, but who is also resistant to change, thinking that what has worked for half a century or more is the tried and true method for feed and housing. We tread gently, and slowly but ultimately it is the horse's health that has to come first. So being relatively new horse owners, ( a rescue situation) we value this information - that it can't be ruled out - as support for our reasoning for insisting on no powdered additives (as well as the fact that it is simply not needed!). So, thank you so much for your time!!
Sue.
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