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The Science Behind Founder Free
Founder Free is a probiotic, topical lotion that works to create a healthy white line on the hoof which may lessen the occurrence of laminitis, white line disease, founder and thrush.
Learn More or Buy NowFounder Free is made from the fermentation products of bacteria that produce bacteriocins that have a powerful inhibitory effect on both the bacteria and fungal pathogens that are implicated in white line disease and laminitis and founder. Founder Free incorporates effective penetrating agents that allow the fermentation products to reach the harmful bacterial and fungal species responsible for the breakdown of the white line of the hoof. The use of Founder Free can effectively stop and then inhibit the growth of the harmful bacteria and fungus.
The Underlying Cause of the Infection
Diseases of the hoof that break down the white line, including white line disease, laminitis and founder, are caused by two or more species of opportunistic microorganisms that exist in a symbiotic or mutually beneficial relationship. Together they produce the particular enzymes and complementary toxins that break down the protein and collagen material that comprise the hoof wall. This consortium colony of both fungal and bacterial microorganisms consists of at least one species of bacteria and at least one species of fungi.
In White Line Disease and other diseases that compromise the integrity of the white line and hoof, including laminitis and founder, bacteria and fungi live within the confines of the hoof wall in a symbiotic relationship. That is, they can live independently, but can mutually benefit by the presence of the other. Each organism breaks down the hoof in a different manner. The fungi and bacteria can be heterotrophic, obtaining their food from no loiving organic matter, or saprophytic, feeding as parasites on living hosts. They become deeply imbedded within the hoof wall and send out threadlike filaments called hyphae that absorb nutrients similar to that of roots of a plant. The bacteria colonies reproduce more quickly by dividing and, like the fungi, can produce spores that make them harder to kill. Treating for bacteria or fungi alone is useless because when one is eliminated, the other will continue to grow. In addition, many of the most common antimicrobial compounds contribute to the development of resistant bacterial and fungal strains. An antimicrobial compound that works on one or more occasions may lose is effectiveness when a resistant strain of bacteria or fungi develops. You must control both simultaneously to be effective.
These microorganisms are opportunistic in nature. That is, they ordinarily will not attack perfectly healthy hoof tissue but will enter into a small crack, nail holes, or fissure at the white line. These problems commonly occur at the stratum medium because this is where the horny laminae interlock with the sensitive laminae. There is a considerable blood supply here, and wherever blood is present, there is a possibility of infection, especially when hemolytic organisms are involved. Any quick or crack presents an opportunity for infection. Laminitis is a good example of a disease that can cause a split in the laminae. Even subclinical cases of laminitis, although not severe enough to cause lameness, could result in small tears at the stratum medium leading to infection. Bruising this area can also lead to problems. Any trace of dried blood from the bruise can be a substrate for the growth of these microorganisms.
Scientific Studies and Identification
In an effort to find some of the microbes that are associated with Founder, Laminitis, and White Line Disease, a study was conducted. Organic material from the diseased hoof was removed. This material was transferred to petri dishes that were comprised of Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) and 5% sheep’s blood. The plates were incubated for 18 hours at 30 degrees C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The microbial colonies that were presented were characterized and identified. The result was a mixed culture of organisms that were identical to those found in the diseased hoof.
Each separate colony was then placed on its own agar plate, some in the presence of oxygen and some without. The fungal samples were placed in small jars. This resulted in pure cultures for six different bacteria and a fungus.
Six bacteria were present. Of those six, Providencia rettgeri, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis, did not represent any threat to the animal. Although they are potentially pathogenic in man, they do not cause any significant destruction of hoof wall or associated tissue. They are simply taking advantage of a welcome environment to proliferate.
The next grouping of bacteria, however, are harmful to the hoof tissue. Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas are capable of producing enzymes destructive to the hoof wall. Staphylococcus prefers blood and can spread many powerful toxins and enzymes through the blood. Staphylococcus species are also known to cause dermal and other extremely dangerous opportunistic infections in both humans and animals.
By far, though, the most destructive bacteria found were Clostridium difficile. The Clostridia family has species that can be deadly and are responsible for tetanus, botulism, and gas gangrene. Clostridium is capable of producing spores and extra-cellular products such as powerful proteinases and collagenases. These substances can be extremely destructive to the hoof wall. It is an anaerobe, which means it lives in environments of little or no free oxygen; it can produce a plethora of destructive enzymes such as fibrinolysins, collagenase, lecithinase and cytolysins.
Effectiveness of Founder Free
The creators of Founder Free, Ganeden Biotech, Inc, had originally developed a product that gained considerable acceptance as a treatment for human Onychomycosis, or fungal nail infections. The product was shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of the same bacteria and fungi that are implicated in white line disease, laminitis, founder, and thrush.
Founder Free is made from the fermentation products of bacteria that produce bacteriocins that have a powerful inhibitory effect on both bacteria and fungal pathogens. Founder Free also incorporates effective penetrating agents that allow the fermentation products to reach the bacterial and fungal species responsible for the white line and hoof tissue destruction. Founder Free can effectively and efficiently stop the harmful bacteria and retard their growth.
Founder Free should be used as a preventative measure to control the growth of bacteria and fungus before the laminitis, founder, white line disease, or thrush occur. However, Founder Free is also quite effective at stopping the progression of the disease, allowing the white line and hoof to heal and become healthy once again.