Caring for horses is not as easy as many horseowners think. Especially for animals under heavy work, there are many factors that can contribute to problems. Equine athletes, such as racehorses or eventing stars, can develop debilitating and even life-threatening ulcers, for example. Equine inflammation management supplements can be of great benefit in both prevention and treatment.
Horses under stress - which includes things like heavy work, stall confinement, and travel to strange places - often develop ulcers in a relatively short time. As many as eighty percent of these athletes may have these sores in their stomach lining. This potential problem must not be dismissed lightly; as in most cases of physical response to stress, a strong program of nutrition can help prevent something that can be hard to cure.
A major factor is that valuable athletes are often confined to stalls and fed large amounts of grain. They need the calories and energy grains provide, and horses often injure themselves during turn-out when they are 'high' from grain. However, this is a departure from what is natural for a horse. They are made to graze twenty-four hours a day and move around freely - and, for the most part, quietly.
Horses need a plentiful and continuous supply of roughage. Chewing up grass or hay stimulates the flow of alkaline saliva, which balances the stomach acid which horses secrete (also on a continuous basis). The mass of roughage in the stomach protects the stomach lining from these acids, which can be harmful during hours-long periods of emptiness. Grain makes the system more acid and requires less chewing, as well.
What does this have to do with inflammation? Well, ulcers are caused by inflammation in the digestive tract. In fact, most problems originate with inflammatory responses in this core system. This is why arthritis in humans is often addressed with dietary changes. Supplements are preferable to NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory drugs) because the drugs often used to treat body soreness or lameness can aggravate ulcerous conditions.
Alfalfa is a healthy herb, sold as tea, tablets, or powder in health food stores. Horses love alfalfa hay and will eat it readily. Owners and trainers should make sure there are no sharp sticks in the hay, which can perforate weak spots in the stomach lining. An option is to rely on soaked alfalfa cubes to add this nutrition and bulk to the horse's diet.
Keeping stall confinement to a minimum, or making it as stress-free as possible, can help. Horses are herd animals, so just being able to see other horses can reduce stress. Keeping a sick animal in familiar surroundings helps. Allowing a horse access to hay or grass at all times is important; if hay consumption must be limited, try one of the slow-feeder nets that make it impossible for the horse to grab a large mouthful.
There are many anti-inflammatory herbs that have been shown to be gentle on the stomach. Tumeric and boswellia help with swelling and soreness; they reduce inflammation in the digestive tract as well. Normalizing the horse's lifestyle as much as possible and supplementing with nutritive herbs and minerals can help keep an athlete going strong.
Horses under stress - which includes things like heavy work, stall confinement, and travel to strange places - often develop ulcers in a relatively short time. As many as eighty percent of these athletes may have these sores in their stomach lining. This potential problem must not be dismissed lightly; as in most cases of physical response to stress, a strong program of nutrition can help prevent something that can be hard to cure.
A major factor is that valuable athletes are often confined to stalls and fed large amounts of grain. They need the calories and energy grains provide, and horses often injure themselves during turn-out when they are 'high' from grain. However, this is a departure from what is natural for a horse. They are made to graze twenty-four hours a day and move around freely - and, for the most part, quietly.
Horses need a plentiful and continuous supply of roughage. Chewing up grass or hay stimulates the flow of alkaline saliva, which balances the stomach acid which horses secrete (also on a continuous basis). The mass of roughage in the stomach protects the stomach lining from these acids, which can be harmful during hours-long periods of emptiness. Grain makes the system more acid and requires less chewing, as well.
What does this have to do with inflammation? Well, ulcers are caused by inflammation in the digestive tract. In fact, most problems originate with inflammatory responses in this core system. This is why arthritis in humans is often addressed with dietary changes. Supplements are preferable to NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory drugs) because the drugs often used to treat body soreness or lameness can aggravate ulcerous conditions.
Alfalfa is a healthy herb, sold as tea, tablets, or powder in health food stores. Horses love alfalfa hay and will eat it readily. Owners and trainers should make sure there are no sharp sticks in the hay, which can perforate weak spots in the stomach lining. An option is to rely on soaked alfalfa cubes to add this nutrition and bulk to the horse's diet.
Keeping stall confinement to a minimum, or making it as stress-free as possible, can help. Horses are herd animals, so just being able to see other horses can reduce stress. Keeping a sick animal in familiar surroundings helps. Allowing a horse access to hay or grass at all times is important; if hay consumption must be limited, try one of the slow-feeder nets that make it impossible for the horse to grab a large mouthful.
There are many anti-inflammatory herbs that have been shown to be gentle on the stomach. Tumeric and boswellia help with swelling and soreness; they reduce inflammation in the digestive tract as well. Normalizing the horse's lifestyle as much as possible and supplementing with nutritive herbs and minerals can help keep an athlete going strong.
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You can get a summary of important factors to keep in mind when choosing a supplier of equine inflammation management supplements at http://www.naviculardisease.com right now.
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