Platinum Bio-Sponge

Platinum Bio-Sponge

Platinum Bio-Sponge is a complementary feed for horses and foals, developed to support gastrointestinal function during episodes of diarrhea and other digestive disturbances. It contains di-tri-octahedral smectite (DTO-smectite), a naturally occurring clay mineral that can bind certain harmful substances in the gastrointestinal tract.

Bio-Sponge is used as additional support for horses and foals experiencing loose stools or diarrhea, including cases associated with intestinal disturbances or following surgery. The product acts within the gastrointestinal tract and can bind certain bacterial toxins, allowing them to be eliminated through the feces.

Bio-Sponge is not a substitute for veterinary treatment. Prompt veterinary examination is particularly important in foals and horses with severe or sudden-onset diarrhea.

Properties and benefits

Bio-Sponge contains DTO-smectite, a mineral with a large surface area to which certain substances can attach. This process is known as adsorption.

Its main properties include:

• Support during diarrhea: can be used as an additional measure for horses and foals experiencing loose stools or diarrhea.
• Binding of bacterial toxins: laboratory studies have shown that DTO-smectite can bind certain toxins produced by bacteria, including Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens.
• Support for gastrointestinal function: may help reduce the effects of certain harmful substances within the gastrointestinal tract.
• Suitable for horses and foals: dosage is adjusted according to age and individual circumstances.
• Easy administration: the powder can be mixed with feed or water.

Bio-Sponge does not kill pathogenic bacteria or directly treat the underlying cause of diarrhea. Its primary action involves binding certain substances within the intestinal contents.

When to use Bio-Sponge?

Under veterinary guidance, Bio-Sponge may be used in the following situations:

• Horses experiencing loose stools or diarrhea.
• Foals with gastrointestinal disturbances or diarrhea.
• Horses at increased risk of diarrhea following surgery.
• Gastrointestinal disturbances during or after antibiotic treatment.
• Foals on farms where diarrhea occurs frequently, when preventive supplementation is recommended by a veterinarian.

In horses with acute diarrhea, identifying the underlying cause is essential. Infections, dietary changes, medications, and various other conditions can contribute to diarrhea.

Bio-Sponge may be included as part of a treatment plan, but it does not replace fluid therapy, correction of electrolyte losses, or other necessary veterinary care.

Composition

Bentonite, as a source of di-tri-octahedral smectite (DTO-smectite).

Directions for use and dosage

Bio-Sponge is administered orally. The powder can be mixed with a small amount of feed or combined with water for administration using an oral dosing syringe.

Adult horses (approximately 450–500 kg or 990–1,100 lb)

• For gastrointestinal disturbances: administer 97.5 g of Bio-Sponge twice daily, equivalent to one large scoop per administration.
• The veterinarian may adjust the dosage depending on the severity of the condition.

Foals with diarrhea

• According to the manufacturer’s current directions: approximately 27.6 g of powder mixed with 30 mL of water, administered two to three times daily.
• The appropriate dosage and frequency for young foals should always be determined in consultation with a veterinarian.
• The manufacturer recommends discontinuing the product one day after the diarrhea has resolved.

Preventive use in newborn foals

On farms where gastrointestinal disturbances are a recurring problem in foals, preventive administration may be recommended by a veterinarian. The manufacturer recommends approximately 4.6–13.8 g mixed with 10–30 mL of water, administered twice daily for four to five days.

In newborn foals, Bio-Sponge should only be administered after adequate colostrum intake and, for this preventive application, no earlier than 12 hours after the foal first nurses. Use Bio-Sponge in newborn foals only under veterinary guidance.

Important: dosages for foals are considerably lower than those for adult horses. Do not use the large scoop to estimate small quantities without an appropriate measuring method.

The manufacturer recommends discontinuing use if there is no noticeable improvement after seven days. This does not mean that veterinary examination should be delayed for seven days. Horses with significant diarrhea, particularly foals, require earlier veterinary assessment.

Packaging and duration of use

Platinum Bio-Sponge is available in two package sizes:

• 1.8 kg bucket: sufficient for approximately 9 days when administering 97.5 g twice daily.
• 9.5 kg bucket: sufficient for approximately 48 days when administering 97.5 g twice daily.

The duration of use may differ considerably for foals or when the veterinarian recommends an adjusted dosage.

Scientific evidence

The effects of DTO-smectite have been investigated in laboratory experiments and clinical studies involving horses.

Laboratory research has demonstrated that DTO-smectite can bind certain bacterial toxins, including toxins produced by Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens. However, this does not mean that the product kills these bacteria or cures an infection.

In a randomized clinical study involving 67 horses undergoing large colon surgery, postoperative diarrhea occurred less frequently in horses receiving DTO-smectite than in the control group. The study used relatively high dosages under veterinary supervision.

These findings support the use of DTO-smectite in certain veterinary situations. However, they do not demonstrate that Bio-Sponge can prevent or treat every type of diarrhea.

Advice from the equine veterinarian

Diarrhea in horses can range from relatively mild gastrointestinal disturbances to serious illness involving rapid fluid and electrolyte losses. Young foals are particularly vulnerable, and their condition can deteriorate quickly.

Bio-Sponge is one of the gastrointestinal support products for which scientific research in horses is available. I consider it a useful additional measure in selected cases of diarrhea, particularly when bacterial toxins may play a role.

However, the underlying cause of diarrhea remains the most important factor in determining appropriate treatment. In cases of acute diarrhea, diagnostic testing may include fecal analysis, blood tests, and an assessment of hydration status.

Contact a veterinarian immediately if your horse develops watery diarrhea, fever, lethargy, signs of colic, or a reduced appetite. For foals with diarrhea, I always recommend seeking veterinary advice on the same day, even if the foal initially continues nursing normally.

Because Bio-Sponge has adsorbing properties, it may also bind other substances administered orally. Consult your veterinarian if Bio-Sponge is being used alongside other medications or supplements.

Bio-Sponge is a supportive product within a treatment plan, not a replacement for diagnosis or necessary veterinary treatment.