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Omega fatty acids may not be a major concern for many horse guardians, but the fact is they play a very important role in both our horses as well as our own health. 

There are three main types of omegas: 3, 6, and 9. Omegas 3 and 6 are considered essential fatty acids (EFAs) because the body cannot manufacture them on its own. The lesser talked-about omega 9 fatty acids are described as non-essential because the body can synthesize them from other foods in the diet.

Omegas are important for horses because they help to:

• Balance immune function;
• Protect joints and ligaments;
• Reduce airway inflammation;
• Support gastrointestinal function;
• Reduce skin allergies; and
• Decrease nervousness.

Your horse may be getting plenty of omegas from his diet already, but what we should be more concerned with is the type and ratio of the omegas he’s consuming.

Though researchers haven’t yet determined an exact ratio for horses, it’s thought that somewhere between 2 – 5:1 omega 3 to omega 6 is best. The main thing to keep in mind is that your horse should be getting MORE omega 3 than omega 6 in his overall diet.

Omega 3

Omega 3s are typically seen as the good guys because they are known to be anti-inflammatory. They are critical for brain function, and they also aid in healing the body after injury or intense exercise. For horses, the best source for omega 3 is fresh, green grass. When grass is cut and dried for hay, however, it loses its omega content. If your horse is on green pasture 24/7, he’s getting 6 to 20 times more omega 3s than omega 6s. However, horses on grain/hay diets get the exact opposite.

Supplementing with a good omega 3 source like our Organic Stone Ground Flaxseed is called for in instances such as this.

Omega 6

Horses require a lesser amount of this essential fatty acid and though omega 6 often gets a bad rap because it is known for causing inflammation and immune system reactions, it is also necessary to stabilize injuries and fight off infections. So in reality, omega 6 isn’t bad; you just don’t want to overdo it with omega 6. 

The following foods are high in omega 6 and should only be fed in limited amounts (and only in conjunction with higher amounts of omega 3):

• grains;
• vegetable and corn oil;
• sunflower seeds; and
• rice bran.

Again, horses on green pasture are likely fine when it comes to their omega intake, but supplementation of omega 3 rich ingredients is necessary for those who aren’t. Older horses who might have difficulty utilizing the omegas they consume in grass and feeds may benefit from supplementation as well.  

 

Sources

Supplementing Horse Diets with Omega Fatty Acids

Horse Journal: Guide to Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals (book)

Omega Fatty Acids Are Health Benefits for Horses

Omega, OMG!

Omega Fatty Acids: What do they do for Horses?

Nutrition Tip: The Best Sources for Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Salt is an important mineral that all horses need year round and while many people consider salt blocks to be a good way to salt for their horse, there are actually better options. 

Why Horses Need Salt

Sodium is the primary electrolyte found in blood as well as the fluid surrounding cells. It is necessary for the production and secretion of bodily fluids such as sweat, saliva, intestinal tract fluids, urine, and mucus. Additionally, sodium is also necessary for proper nerve, digestion, and muscle function. 

If sodium levels are low, the blood won’t hold enough water. This causes the adrenal gland to release aldosterone, which tells the kidneys to hold on to sodium and excrete potassium in its place. As you might expect, this leads to an electrolyte imbalance within the body. 

A lack of sodium in the diet can promote or exacerbate conditions such as anhidrosis, tying up, and a rapid heart rate. It can also diminish a horse’s thirst since the body doesn’t want to flush away any more sodium. 

Feeding salt during cold weather is especially important since salt intake promotes drinking–which in turn keeps the digestive tract moving smoothly and helps to prevent impaction colic.

Why Salt Blocks Aren’t Optimal for Horses

Salt blocks were actually designed for cattle, who have rougher tongues. And while it’s okay to have a block in your horse pasture, you should not rely on it solely to provide sodium and chloride needs for your horse. For one, it’s impossible to monitor daily consumption. Horses also have smoother tongues and may not be able to get their needed amount of salt from the block. Additionally, they may end up biting the block in an attempt to get more salt, which may lead to dental and/or jaw problems. 

Horses need about 1-2 ounces of salt per day, and if they’re in work or sweating from hot weather, that amount may increase to 4-6 ounces.  A horse that is salt deficient may lick or chew on objects around the barn or pasture or may even lick or eat dirt.

If you use a salt block at all, purchase the plain, white block instead of a red mineral block which has other minerals added as well. Your horse may not need the extra minerals provided by a red block and it may also decrease the amount of salt he consumes.

Loose Salt is Best

Providing loose salt is best for horses. However, when purchasing loose salt, make sure you are getting the kind that is intended for animal consumption (and not for de-icing). The Holistic Horse recommends feeding our Pure Unrefined Sea Salt free choice. However, if your  horse doesn’t eat the salt free choice within the first few weeks, add a few tablespoons daily to his feed while still keeping salt out free choice in a hanging feeder bucket at all times. Once the horse starts eating it free choice, there is no need to continue adding to feed daily anymore.

If you haven’t heard of diatomaceous earth (DE, for short), you’re probably not alone. But this natural ingredient has been gaining in popularity over the last decade or so for several primary reasons: it’s affordable, effective, and an extremely versatile product to use around the farm. 

DE is a finely ground powder made from the sediment of fossilized algae (diatoms) that have accumulated in rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. It was used by the ancient Greeks to make building materials and later, in Europe, for various industrial uses. 

DE is high in silica (80-90%), which has many proven health benefits including helping to maintain the health of bones and joints, connective tissue, skin, the immune system, the digestive system, and more. Because of this, DE is commonly used in many skincare products, in toothpaste, as well as in dietary supplements. 

DE Uses Around the Farm

DE has many uses around the farm as well, but its most common use is as a natural insecticide. In fact, DE has been found to kill bed bugs, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, ticks, spiders, and other pests. Food grade DE is not poisonous and does not need to be eaten by the insects in order to be effective. Because the tiny diatoms have sharp edges, they slice into the insect’s exoskeleton and cause them to dry out and die. 

Because of this ability to kill insects, DE is the primary ingredient in The Holistic Horse’s products FlyDie, AntDie, StallGuard, and PastureGuard, which target pests found around the barn, pasture, and yard. 

DE can also be used directly on your pet’s skin to kill fleas. FleaGuard for Dogs uses DE as well as flea-repelling essential oils in order to help eliminate fleas. DE is also used in KennelGuard SC to help eliminate urine, odor, moisture, as well as flies from dog kennels. 

FleaGuard for Cats is designed to be used directly on your cat’s hair coat to eliminate fleas (only without the essential oils which are toxic to cats). 

DE is also commonly used as an all natural deworming product for horses, livestock, and pets. It works in the same manner, the abrasive diatoms slicing into the worms and killing them. It also helps to detoxify the horse’s body, supporting a strong immune system which will help to prevent heavy worm burdens in the first place. All of The Holistic Horse’s equine deworming products contain DE. They include: 

• WormGuard SC Plus for Horses;
• Omni WormGuard Plus for Horses;
• Omni WormGuard Plus for Senior Horses;
• DiaGuard for Horses; and
• MarePrep.

You will also find DE in THH’s deworming products for other animals including cattle, llamas, alpacas, goats, chickens, pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. 

The great thing about using DE around the farm is that it’s virtually non-toxic to fish, birds, aquatic animals, and other wildlife. Therefore, you can feel good about using it. 

If you choose to purchase straight diatomaceous earth, make sure to buy the food-grade version, as opposed to the pool-grade form which is toxic if ingested. Also, take care not to inhale DE as it can cause lung irritation. 

Like us, our dogs are no strangers to experiencing allergies. You may notice it as sneezing or watery eyes, or more likely, your dog will have itchy or irritated skin. The first step with an allergic dog is to try to determine what may be causing the allergic reaction and work to eliminate the allergen from your dog’s diet or environment. 

What are Allergies Exactly? 

Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a foreign substance. It could be pollen, food ingredients, flea saliva, mold, or a number of different things. Essentially, allergies are a type of hypersensitive reaction to these normally harmless substances and are due to an imbalance within the immune system.

However, the immune reactions involved in allergies are complex. The process usually involves allergen protein molecules combining with antibodies in the blood, which then attach to mast cells found in many tissues throughout the body. When the antigen and antibody react with mast cells, histamines are often released. This causes local inflammation, redness, swelling, and itching, as well as other types of symptoms.  

Many things can cause an allergic reaction in dogs, but the most common types of allergies involve food allergies.

Allergy Symptoms in Dogs

The most common symptom associated with allergies in dogs is itchy skin. Allergies can also involve the respiratory system, causing coughing, sneezing, or wheezing and dogs may have runny discharge from the eyes or nose. However, allergies can also affect the digestive tract, resulting in vomiting and/or diarrhea. 

How to Naturally Support Your Dog with Allergies

Along with trying to find the source of the allergen and remove it from your dog’s environment, supporting the immune system is also important in helping relieve your dog’s allergy symptoms. Antibiotics and steroids are commonly used to treat allergies in traditional settings, and though they may be needed in some instances, these treatments tend to only provide temporary relief. Nutrition and complimentary therapies are often more effective; however, keep in mind that allergies can often take months or longer to improve. 

The most important thing you can do is feed a high-quality, species appropriate diet. Raw or home-cooked foods are best. If you can’t do this, then feed the highest quality dog food you can afford and supplement with healthy, fresh foods whenever possible. Keep in mind that wheat, soy, corn, and other grains are common allergens for dogs, so it’s best to eliminate them from the diet completely. Beef and chicken are also common sources of allergies so try varied proteins such as lamb, venison or salmon.

In conjunction with feeding a high quality diet, several supplements you can incorporate into your dog’s diet in order to provide even more support for the immune system include: 

• Immune Boost for Dogs: Formulated to strengthen and keep the immune system functioning at peak performance, this product can be used as a daily maintenance supplement, or during times of increased risk of illness or allergies;

• Flaxseed for Cats & Dogs: An excellent source of Omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids which support the immune system and reduce inflammation and itching; and

• Antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatories such as quercetin and pycnogenol, as well as vitamins C and E. 
• Our Organic Icelandic Kelp and Bee Pollen can also be helpful for allergies.

 

Sources

Allergies in Dogs

A Holistic Approach to Canine Allergies

If your horse is overweight or has been diagnosed with a metabolic condition such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or insulin resistance (IR), there are a number of things you, as a horse guardian, can do to help stabilize or even reverse the condition. 

First on that list should be implementing dietary changes. Focus on feeding a low-sugar, forage based diet and ensure that your horse’s vitamin and mineral needs are met. Secondly, increasing your horse’s exercise to encourage weight loss (and improved blood flow) is always helpful. This can be done by using a track system, giving your horse a friend or two to move about the pasture with, or simply riding or longe lining your horse on a more regular basis.  

There are also several supplements/herbs you can add to your horse’s diet to help improve insulin sensitivity. You might be surprised to learn that one such herb is cinnamon. 

This well known spice is not only a great addition to flavorful desserts and dishes, but also a healing herb, especially when it comes to metabolic conditions. In fact, cinnamon has been used medicinally for centuries in Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. 

Cinnamon comes from several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum, found in the tropical and subtropical regions of North America, Central America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Australia. The herb gets its distinct aroma and taste from the essential oil, cinnamaldehyde, and it’s also thought that cinnamaldehyde is responsible for many of cinnamon’s health benefits.

Cinnamon has the ability to help cells recognize and respond to insulin, the hormone created by the pancreas that controls the amount of glucose circulating in the bloodstream. Studies have shown that the methylhydroxy chalcone polymer (MHCP) found in cinnamon makes cells more responsive to insulin by activating the enzyme that causes insulin to bind to cells. At the same time, it inhibits the enzyme that blocks this process.

Aside from improving insulin response, cinnamon has several other health benefits for horses, including:

• Antioxidant properties: Specialized molecules that protect against degenerative processes caused by free radicals such as arthritis, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders, as well as cancer;

• Anti-inflammatory effects: Because cinnamon is high in anti-oxidants, it is helpful in reducing inflammation and may be beneficial for any type of inflammatory disease; and

• Antimicrobial activity: In the age before antibiotics, cinnamon was used to help fight off infections and recent studies have shown that cinnamon extracts, essential oils, and their components contain antibacterial properties that work against bacteria responsible for infectious diseases. 

There are two main types of cinnamon: Ceylon and Cassia and each has its own distinct color, taste, and smell. Ceylon cinnamon is often referred to as the “true” cinnamon and is grown primarily in Sri Lanka. 

The Holistic Horse offers Organic Ceylon Cinnamon for use with overweight or metabolic horses. We also have several other herbal supplements beneficial for metabolic horses, including Organic Chasteberry Powder, Su-Per® Mag-pro Powder, and Osoleen Support for Glucose Metabolism. Another great product is our Organic Icelandic Kelp. It contains iodine which is necessary for thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism.

Though horses will never be able to talk us, if we really pay attention, we’ll find that they do communicate in their own language. In fact, horses often let us know when they’re happy, when they’re irritated, and also when they’re in pain.

Unfortunately, many so-called behavioral problems in horses actually stem from pain. A horse may refuse to perform, become spooky, or develop a “bad attitude” when they are hurting. Learning to recognize the subtle signs of pain is important—that way we can seek to determine the underlying cause in order to help our horses however we can. 

Postural Changes

If you notice your horse frequently standing in a strange position, this is definitely indicative of pain. For example, these are common ‘pain’ stances:

• Camped under: usually indicates pain in the stifle, hock, or back;
• Rocked-back: usually indicates laminitis or toe pain;
• Toe-pointing: usually from pain in one foot or limb;
• Lowered head: could be a sign of pain anywhere in the body; and
• Continually shifting weight: could indicate pain in one or more hooves/limbs.

 

Facial Indicators

Your horse’s face can also tell you how they are feeling. Any of these signs may indicate pain somewhere in the body:

• Lowered ears (out to the side and floppy looking);
• Tightening around the eyes (often showing wrinkles above eyes); 
• Teeth grinding (common with ulcers); and
• Tense facial/ jaw muscles.

 

Looking at Stomach

If your horse continually looks at his stomach (usually in combination with other signs such as laying down, pawing, kicking at stomach, etc.), this is almost always an indicator of colic. It needs to be treated ASAP!

 

Flehmen Response 

Although horses use the Flehmen response for a variety of reasons (usually in response to odors), it could also be an indicator of pain, especially if a horse is developing colic or is experiencing low-level gastro-intestinal discomfort. 

 

Other Behavioral Changes

Your horse may also be experiencing pain of some kind if he suddenly displays new behaviors such as:

• aggressiveness;
• irritability;
• increased periods of lying down;
• disinterest; or
• pinned ears.

 

Natural Pain Relief Supplements

If you notice any of the above signs of pain in your horse, having a veterinary evaluation is warranted. Colic is always a medical emergency, but other pain signs could be due to an ongoing issue. With aging horses, arthritis and/or deteriorating joints are commonly to blame. In cases such as these, using a natural pain relief supplement can be helpful. The Holistic Horse offers the following pain relief supplements: 

MSM Ultra Pure Powder reduces inflammation and enhances circulation, helping with arthritis, epiphysitis, osteochondritis dissecans, and developmental orthopedic disease.

MSM Cream has the same pain-relieving benefits as the powder, only for use as a topical cream. Our MSM cream also contains essential oils with healing properties. 

Su-Per® MSM Blend combines the natural anti-inflammatory properties of MSM and omega 3s in flaxseed, providing relief for many joint conditions.

Bjute Natural Pain Relief is an herbal alternative to bute that provides relief from pain and inflammation. Contains turmeric, white willow bark, and boswelia. 

 

Sources

Subtle Signs of Pain in Horses

Pain in Horses Frequently Overlooked

The Equine Pain Face: Learn to Recognize the Signs

Flehmen: The Horse with the Upturned Lip