The unnatural lifestyle of many sport horses can cause intestinal problems like colic, poor absorption of nutrients, and ulcers. Racehorses and top show jumpers or eventing horses have ulcers more often than not. This affects total health as well as performance, so owners and trainers cannot afford to ignore this problem. Equine inflammation management supplements can really help in both prevention and alleviation.
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.
Horses in the wild eat grass around the clock, with short times out for resting. Horses in stalls, however, often have regular feeding times with periods of fasting in between, when they have eaten their hay and have to wait for more. Show or racing horses also need the concentrated energy and calories of grain, which make their systems more acidic than roughage does.
The animal needs a constant supply of roughage for two reasons. One, the act of chomping on grass or hay causes saliva to be excreted, and a horse's saliva is alkaline. This naturally balances the stomach acid which is produced around the clock. Roughage in the stomach also acts as a protection for the stomach lining, the mucosa, which can be damaged or even perforated by the acid, or in other words injured by an ulcer.
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 hay is good for ulcers. However, be careful about feeding it to an animal which already has the condition. Make sure to choose very soft hay and remove any sharp stems or sticks which could perforate a weak spot in the stomach wall. It might be best to shake the hay vigorously and feed mainly the leaves if a serious problem already exists. Soaking alfalfa cubes to soften them and feeding them instead of hay is an option.
Stress reduction is vital. Horses are herd animals and should be turned out with others or at least kept in a stall where they can see other horses. Research shows that horses do best without radios being left on and without lights on at night. Minerals are calming and should be supplemented if pasture or hay is deficient. Familiar surroundings are important, and horses that travel to shows are under additional stress. If hay consumption must be limited, 'slow-feeder' nets can minimize times when no roughage is available.
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.
Horses in the wild eat grass around the clock, with short times out for resting. Horses in stalls, however, often have regular feeding times with periods of fasting in between, when they have eaten their hay and have to wait for more. Show or racing horses also need the concentrated energy and calories of grain, which make their systems more acidic than roughage does.
The animal needs a constant supply of roughage for two reasons. One, the act of chomping on grass or hay causes saliva to be excreted, and a horse's saliva is alkaline. This naturally balances the stomach acid which is produced around the clock. Roughage in the stomach also acts as a protection for the stomach lining, the mucosa, which can be damaged or even perforated by the acid, or in other words injured by an ulcer.
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 hay is good for ulcers. However, be careful about feeding it to an animal which already has the condition. Make sure to choose very soft hay and remove any sharp stems or sticks which could perforate a weak spot in the stomach wall. It might be best to shake the hay vigorously and feed mainly the leaves if a serious problem already exists. Soaking alfalfa cubes to soften them and feeding them instead of hay is an option.
Stress reduction is vital. Horses are herd animals and should be turned out with others or at least kept in a stall where they can see other horses. Research shows that horses do best without radios being left on and without lights on at night. Minerals are calming and should be supplemented if pasture or hay is deficient. Familiar surroundings are important, and horses that travel to shows are under additional stress. If hay consumption must be limited, 'slow-feeder' nets can minimize times when no roughage is available.
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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