A Guide to Safe Equine Herbal Feeding
By
Claire C. Cox-Wilson
Today’s
trend toward natural horse care has made the use of herbal remedies
more popular than ever. Unfortunately, in search for the “miracle
cure,” horse owners are displaying reckless and imprudent choices in
their herbal feeding. More often than not, they are doing more harm
than good. Sometimes they are even endangering their horses’ lives.
Recently, a woman noticed her 24-year-old quarter horse was drinking
and urinating excessively, but rather than call a veterinarian she
decided to go the natural route. She fed her horse a “for the kidneys”
herbal preparation containing 12 powdered herbs from a popular herbal
company. The horse became very lethargic and started staggering and
exhibiting muscle tremors. He continued to urinate excessively and then
abruptly stopped drinking water altogether. As it turned out, three of
the herbs in the preparation were powerful diuretics and the horse
became so dehydrated that the vet had to administer intravenous fluids.
For 24 hours, it was uncertain if the horse would survive.
He was later diagnosed with Equine Cushing’s Disease which, in its
early stages, can sometimes be managed with the feeding of the herb
chaste tree berry (Vitex Agnus Castus). However, as the condition
progresses the most effective drug has proven to be pergolide mesylate.
Unfortunately, while this horse owner’s intentions were good, clearly
she did not understand the power—and danger—of herbs.
Feeding Herbs-A
Serious Endeavor
Feeding our horses herbs is a serious endeavor; you can fool yourself
into believing that because herbs are natural, they are safe...not so.
Many of our modern drugs come from herbs. For example, Digitalis, a
drug used to stimulate the heart is derived from foxglove. Coumarol, an
anti-clotting agent is derived from sweet clover. Aspirin comes from
white willow bark and morphine from papaver somniferum (poppy).
It is important to understand that herbs can sometimes do things that
drugs can't, like adaptogens that balance the stress response; or do
the same things only safer, like herbal pain relievers versus drugs
with a narrow safety margin. On the other hand, there are no known
herbal treatments that can match the safety and effectiveness of modern
dewormers and antibiotics when you really need them. Most herbals
marketed for liver disease are either mild liver toxins themselves, or
designed to make the gallbladder contract - but horses don't have a
gallbladder. Another erroneous belief is that herbs will enhance the
color of a horse’s coat and keep it from bleaching out. If a horse has
a dull, bleached out looking coat the most probable cause is worm
infestation or a mineral imbalance, such as a copper deficiency.
It is natural to want to feed our horse herbs, after all in the wild,
horses have access to hundreds of herbs and plants. These are certainly
more natural to the equine then the processed feeds we feed them. When
fed responsibly and judiciously herbs can provide domesticated horses
with the variety and health benefits their species enjoy in the wild.
Do
Your Research
Many horse owners will give their horse an herbal preparation,
assuming that because the ingredients are natural they will not harm
their horse. But remember that herbs that are effective in treating a
condition are by definition considered a drug. Like drugs, herbs have
specific properties and actions, and in more cases than not, side
effects.
Before feeding a horse any herbs, research each herb carefully.
It
is a common misconception to assume that if a certain herb is safe for
humans that it is also safe for horses.
- A
perfect example of this is St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), a
popular herb for managing stress in humans. However, it contains
hypericin, which can be toxic to horses and most grazing animals.
Horses can have a severe reaction, displaying symptoms of
photosensitivity and peeling skin conditions, which often leads to a
horse rubbing himself raw. A horse may suffer from loss of appetite,
mild fever and diarrhea, display a staggering gait and act confused. In
extreme cases, blindness can occur and the horse can go into a coma.
- Horsetail (Equisetum
arvense) is another herb that can cause serious problems in the equine.
This herb contains thiaminase, which can cause a thiamine deficiency in
horses. Symptoms such as weakness, staggering, muscle problems and
diarrhea can occur. Death can occur if left untreated. Even though,
well-known herbalists and authors Catherine Bird and Hilary Page Self
advise against the use of St. John’s Wort and Horsetail, both of these
herbs are used in herbal preparations for horses.
- Another extremely
controversial herb is Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). It is a well known
fact that when horses are bedded on wood shavings containing black
walnut shavings, clinical signs of laminitis (inflammation of the
laminae in the hoof) can occur within 24 hours or less. Consumption of
the shavings may cause signs of laminitis as well as mild colic.
Affected horses become unwilling to move or have their feet picked up,
are depressed, may exhibit limb edema and signs of laminitis.
Difficulty in breathing (increased rate and depth) may be noted. Horses
on pasture may show mild respiratory signs from pollen or fallen
leaves. According to the Indiana Plants Poisonous to Livestock and Pets
website (Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University): “Reports
are not clear concerning the safety of black walnut leaves in processed
feeds. The bark and seed hulls are toxic, and these should never be
incorporated into any feeds. In the interest of safety, any part of the
black walnut plant should not be allowed to contaminate feeds.” It is
also important to note that in the world of clinical research,
infusions by nasal-gastric tube of black walnut extract are often used
to create reversible symptoms of laminitis in horses in order to
further the understanding of the disease. There are herbal companies
that use black walnut in their preparations and there are herbalists
who will tell you that if the black walnut is aged properly, it is
safe. The question is…how can one be sure? If an herb is listed as
toxic in any of my books or by a reputable source, such as a state
university, I avoid using it.
For more information on herbs
that are poisonous to horses, see the references at the end this
article. During your research, you will run into inconsistent
information about certain herbs. This is why it is so important to
research an herb extensively in as many books and internet sources as
possible. To make an informed choice, so that your horse always gets
the best and safest treatment possible, try to find a vet that is
familiar with both herbs and drugs, and can explain to you the pros and
cons of both for your horse's situation. If possible, get the input of
an equine herbalist, holistic practitioner or an equine nutritionist as
well.
Ultimately, as your horse’s owner and guardian it is up to you to make
sound decisions and safe choices for your horse.
Diagnosis
First-Then Treatment
It is important to know what you are dealing with before treating
it. While there are many good herbal alternatives to most drugs, giving
horse herbs for a medical condition can be dangerous if you do not have
an accurate diagnosis.
Do not use herbal preparations in place of veterinary care. If your
horse is exhibiting strange symptoms, do not assume an herbal
preparation is the cure. You need to obtain a diagnosis first. Get a
diagnosis from your veterinarian and then treat the cause. Sometimes
finding a diagnosis can be as exasperating as treating the disease. If
your veterinarian appears to be having problems arriving at a
diagnosis, seek a second opinion.
When you treat the symptoms of any human or equine condition without
knowing the cause, it is a band-aid solution at best. In the case of
herbal remedies, it might just be a toxic band-aid.
Read the Label
Several months ago, I was browsing through a neighborhood feed store
and an attractive display of herbs caught my eye.
I picked up a bag, then another and another. There was no list of
ingredients on any of the packages for these preparations. I was
stunned; I put the fifth bag back on the shelf and started to walk
away. A young sales clerk saw me and cheerfully remarked, “I’ve heard
these herbs are absolutely great!” “Really?” I challenged, “Why don’t
they list their ingredients, then?” “They don’t?” she picked up a
package. “I think they list them on their website” “Well, that doesn’t
help me much. I have a horse that is allergic to yucca,” I countered.
“I wouldn’t feed my horse anything without knowing the ingredients
first.” That was pretty much the end of that conversation.
As a consumer, you have the right to know what you are buying.
Safe and
Rewarding Herbal Feeding
There is indeed something magical about herbs. Feeding your horse herbs
can be rewarding and fun for you and your horse. I think that variety
is something domesticated horses really miss & crave. The ideal
setting would be to have our horses on 200 acres or more, where they
could roam and pick their own herbs. Unfortunately, for most of us this
is not an option. This is the main reason I feed my horses herbs. The
benefit to this is that if you pick the herbs carefully you can also
provide your horse with the vitamins, antioxidants and minerals they
require for a healthier and happier existence.
At the end of this article, I have listed some of my favorite equine
herbal books and most reliable herbal internet resources. Keep in mind
that most educational herbal internet sites focus on herbal use for
humans.
Always use herbs safely and responsibly - your horse’s well-being
depends on you.
References & Recommended Books
Bird, C. (2002). A
Healthy Horse the Natural Way. Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press.
Kellon, Eleanor VMD, Equine Nutritional Solutions, PA. Personal
Communication
Self, H. P. (2004). A Modern Horse Herbal.
Great Britain: Quiller Publishing Ltd.
Self, H. P. (2005). Veteran Horse Herbal.
Singapore: Kenilworth Press Ltd. Tilford,
Mary L. Wulff & Gregory L. (1999). All You Ever Wanted to
Know About Herbs for Pets. California: Bow Tie Press
Reliable Herbal
Internet Sites
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html
http://www.speednetllc.com/djw/health/herb-med.htm
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/index.htm
http://www.dcdoctor.com/pages/rightpages_wellnesscenter/dietandnutrition/nutritionguide/nutriguide_herbs.html
Poisonous Herbs
and Plants
http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/toxic.html
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/linn/Poisonous%20plants%20lvstck.html
http://www.meadowherbs.com/toxic.htm
http://www.equinexpectations.com/HEALTH%20NEWS.htm#Indiana_Plants_Poisonous_to_Livestock_and_Pets_
References to
Black Walnut:
http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant45.htm
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_25.html
http://www.equinecentre.unimelb.edu.au/health_nutraceuticals_toxicity.shtml
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez
(enter “black walnut +horse” in search box)
About the
Author
In her forty years of horse keeping, Claire Cox-Wilson has dealt with
multiple feeding issues, arthritic horses, laminitis, Equine Cushing’s
Disease , Insulin Resistance, Iron overload, Navicular Syndrome and
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM). “As a daughter of an Italian
father and an Hispanic mother, I came by my herbal inclinations quite
naturally. I grew up in a household where herbs were used for
everything,” says Cox-Wilson. “It was a way of life.”
Claire makes custom horse hair dreamcatchers and herbal blends for
horses. She can be reached through her home website at http://members.cox.net/shotgun.ranch
or her business website http://witcheyladycreations.com/index.html