Coronavirus And Leaky Gut Syndrome

Coronavirus, caused by ingesting infected fecal material, travels through a horse’s digestive tract, where it adheres to the lining of the small intestine where it replicates. Infected horses may be lethargic and have a fever and weight loss, as well as diarrhea. Not every infected horse will show signs, however, reports The Horse.

Once a horse has received from the coronavirus, his bloodwork may show low protein levels. This is most likely caused by the large amounts of fluid and proteins that can be secreted from the horse’s colon. Additionally, coronavirus can cause gaps to occur between the cells that line the digestive tract, causing a space where the contents of the gut can enter the bloodstream. Dubbed “leaky gut,” these gaps allow toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream and proteins from the bloodstream to enter the gut.

It’s important that a horse with leaky gut receives a well-balanced diet with appropriate levels of zinc, which is important to the integrity of gut lining. Encapsulated butyric acid, found in many commercial feeds, promotes the growth of tissues in the digestive tract and strengthens the intestinal barrier. It may also reduce inflammation in the lining of the intestine.

Prebiotics should also be considered for a horse that has contracted coronavirus. Prebiotics help stabilize the gut microbiome and may remove undesirable toxins before they can be harmful. Swapping some of the long-stemmed fiber in a horse’s diet for pelleted forage may also help as pellets are easier to digest and are less abrasive to the intestinal lining.