Disruption of Hindgut Flora

What causes disruption of hindgut flora?

There are a number of factors which can influence the balance of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in the gut.  These include:

• High cereal diet
• Low forage diet
• Stress
• Strenuous exercise
• Transport
• NSAID (a type of painkiller such as bute) use
• Antibiotic use
• Weaning
• Management changes

Effects of microflora disruption

An imbalance of gut flora caused by too few beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of bad bacteria is known as dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis can cause a decrease in pH within the gut and subsequent inflammation of the gut leading to clinical problems such as:

• Diarrhoea
• Colonic ulceration
• Poor body condition
• Poor performance
• Low grade colic
• Behavioural changes