Feeding initial higher does of Supplements

[sandr]

Is there really any need to for me feed twice the amount of supplement for the first two weeks?

Other than costing me a absolute fortune, what does it do and what will happen if i just go onto the maintenance's?

 

[hadfos]

I never have,it will just take a little longer to run through system is all!!

 

[YorkshireLass]

Mamy suplements have a 'loading dose' for a few weeks or months. If you go on to the maintainance dose it will simply take longer before the levels build up. It depends what it is, with lots of things, like vitamins the body can only utilise/absorb a certain quantity and the rest is simply passed unused.

 

[kit279]

You might need a 'loading dose' but that should only be for 3-4 days not 2 weeks!

 

[racingdemon]

Nope, especially if you are just swapping from one brand of supplement to another, they are either advised to simply boost consumption or becasue the product may take a few days to take effect, certainly as a PP has said unless the horse has considerable problems (i.e V bad joints) you shouldn't need to feed it at a loading dose for more than a week

 

[kanter]

I never quite understand this, as normally when adding something new to the diet you would do it gradually ie reverse load it!

 

[JenHunt]

It depends on the supplement.

Joint supplements generally suggest a longer time on the loading dose because of how poor the absorption of the active ingrediants is - so it takes much longer for the level to build up in the body.

Calmers and so on don't really need a loading dose unless you are combating a known deficiency.

there really isn't a need to use the loading dose if you are swapping between brands that rely on the same active ingrediants... i..e magnesium based calmer to magnesium based calmer. But it may be beneficial if the active ingrediants are different i.e magnesium based calmer to l-tryptophan based calmer.

I;m sure i've totally confused you now!!