how to prevent colic and aid digestion

Question
Hi Toni, I emailed you on Oct 3 about our 4 1/2 month old mini colt having diarrhea but otherwise seemingly healthy. I watched him closely, he did not have a fever or any other symptoms. I just thought his little digestive system would adjust to the alfalfa/grass mix we fed him along with his parents and sister. He deveoped colic, we rushed him to the vet and He passed away within 12 hours on Nov 4. The vet did an autopsy and said he had a bacteria infection in the small intestine. She did blood work and said his white blood count was "very high". I had given him intermittent antibiotic power in his feed but what I didn't know was I needed to replace the good bacteria that the antibiotic kills along with the bad. I have done alot of reading since and want to make sure I take every precaution with the rest of them. None of them have diarrhea like he did but they seem bloated and overweight. We are cutting back on feeding portions, now adding supplements and I want to give them probio paste with active bacteria just to make sure they have enough good bacteria to aid their digestions and ease bloating. Are we on the right track and how often would you recommend giving them the probio paste. Thanks in advance for all your caring and great advice.

Answer
Hi Patty-
I am so sorry about your little guy. Its so hard to lose one and colic is always bad.
You know, I am not a vet so when it comes to probiotics or antibiotics for that matter, I think you may need their advice. One thing I would mention is that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, just as you discovered with the antibiotics. I believe probiotics are more of an occasional thing, I am not sure whether they are helpful or potentially harmful on a too regular basis?
The other thing that comes to mind is that if your minis are bloated, etc, it could very well be parasites. It is very important to worm them on a regular basis as parasites can cause a multitude of problems including infections. Worming can also help to prevent colic caused by parasites. But again, not too much. I worm every 8-12 weeks on a rotational schedule recommended by my vet or you can find them online at websites like www.jeffersequine.com. If you feed sweet feed, you may want to switch to a pelleted feed formulated for minis as that can help. Platform makes one I am using.  Just some thoughts. I think your minis are fortunate to have such a caring owner and again, I am sorry for your loss. Best, Toni