365 Days in Horse Country – Nutraceuticals
You have probably heard of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements that provide nutritional effects but aren’t considered drugs. Many people take these supplements, especially the more popular nutraceuticals such as Echinacea, St. John’s Wort, and Ginkgo Biloba.
Horses can benefit from nutraceuticals, too, just like humans. The most commonly given nutraceuticals for horses are those intended to help joint health. These include glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, and many equine vets recommend them for horses with arthritis. Hoof problems and allergies are two other common reason people give nutraceuticals to their horses.
Your local tack and feed store stocks an array of equine nutraceuticals. But before you run out and spend a fortune on a bunch of these products (cheap they are not), talk to your veterinarian.
Chances are, your horse doesn’t need any of these products in his diet. In fact, you’ll be hard pressed to find a vet who will recommend anything other than the three joint supplements already mentioned.
Alternative veterinarians are the exception. They primarily use nutraceuticals to treat ailments in horses. (They may also prescribe acupuncture, massage, and other complementary/alternative modalities.) These vets may prescribe a number of different supplements to help your horse get through whatever health problem he is experiencing. In this case, the veterinarian will tell you exactly what to do and what to give your horse. He or she may even supply the supplements to you. (If your horse is ill, don’t add supplements to your horse’s diet without first talking to your veterinarian.)
Michael