Be Careful Where You’re Getting Your Horse Nutrition Advice…

By: Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD

Nutrition is a science that incorporates physiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and biology. Nutrition is also as much a specialty as Orthopedics, Pharmacology, and more. Nutrition can be studied at the Masters degree or Ph.D. level.

Veterinarians aren’t taught much nutrition in school. Neither are M.D.s, Farriers/trimmers, chiropractors, body workers, barn owners, trainers, fellow owners, clerks at the feed store — and anyone else you can think of who does not have an advanced animal science or nutrition degree knows even less.

Does a horse owner know more than a cat owner? They know more about what is fed to horses but not necessarily why. The why is where the true knowledge of nutrition comes in. What are the calorie, protein, vitamin, and mineral requirements? What types of foods and supplements are digestible, bioavailable, and well tolerated? What things are toxic and at what level? That’s just the beginning.

Like all science, equine nutrition evolves as we learn more. Some people say changing recommendations means that science is basically unreliable and worthless because it can change; but that change means it is evolving, refining, and improving. It still retains a core of basic facts that is the foundation.

Despite the fact that nutrition is a complex science, myriads of unqualified people are doling out nutritional advice, either to sell something or because they want to make a “discovery.” The latest claim I’ve heard is that equine metabolic problems, arthritis, and navicular can all be significantly improved by removing sulfates from the diet. This seems to refer to supplements in sulfate form, e.g., copper sulfate. The claim is that sulfate is pro-inflammatory and increases iron absorption. The problem is, that’s not true.

The second problem is that the vast majority of the sulfate in the horse’s body comes from water, sulfate in foods, and sulfate produced from the sulfur-containing amino acids. Stopping supplements in sulfate form would not have any significant effect – which is a good thing because sulfate is absolutely essential for life and health including production of the most widespread detoxifying, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compound in the horse’s body: glutathione. The bottom line is that the whole claim is ridiculous.

Another claim trending at the moment is “whole food” feeds and supplements that claim to provide every nutrient the horse needs, with no supplementation of individual nutrients. I’m surprised the FDA and state Ag departments haven’t caught up with some of these feed companies yet. Their own analyses show they are not complete and adequate. The supplements don’t measure up either.

The truth is the more of these unsupplemented “whole foods” you give the horse in place of hay or grass, the more likely you are to have protein and mineral deficiencies. The only thing you can be guaranteed this type of feed gives in adequate amounts is calories.

This list goes on and on. Some of it is just wacky, some actually dangerous, especially for special-needs situations like metabolic syndrome, or myopathies, and groups with very high needs for growth, lactation, pregnancy, or performance. Remember, nutrition is one of the few major contributors to your horse’s health that is completely within your control. There’s no place for unsubstantiated advice.

About Dr. Kellon
Graduate of University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School. Owner of Equine Nutritional Solutions, www.drkellon.com, industry and private nutritional consultations, online nutritional courses. Staff Veterinary Expert at Uckele Health and Nutrition. Veterinary Advisor to the ECIR Group Inc.

About ECIR Group Inc.
Started in1999, the ECIR Group is the largest field-trial database for PPID and EMS in the world and provides the latest research, diagnosis, and treatment information, in addition to dietary recommendations for horses with these conditions. Even universities do not and cannot compile and follow long term as many in-depth case histories of PPID/IR horses as the ECIR Group.

In 2013 the Equine Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance Group Inc., an Arizona nonprofit corporation, was approved as a 501(c)3 public charity. Tax-deductible contributions and grants support ongoing research, education, and awareness of Equine Cushing’s Disease/PPID and Insulin Resistance.

THE MISSION of the ECIR Group Inc. is to improve the welfare of equines with metabolic disorders via a unique interface between basic research and real-life clinical experience. Prevention of laminitis is the ultimate goal. The ECIR Group serves the scientific community, practicing clinicians, and owners by focusing on investigations most likely to quickly, immediately, and significantly benefit the welfare of the horse.