Garlic casing anemia in horses ??

NOISYGIRL

NOISYGIRL

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 November 2006
Messages
2,398
Visit site
I mean causing, it won't let me change the title sorry

I have the vet to my 32 year old horse today, she said his gums were a little pale, I've been investigating online and found this

http://www.horse-advice.com/equi-therapy/herbal/garlic-horses.shtml

I only give the correct amount of garlic but wonder if this is a contributor as he'd never been anemic before, and know there are other things it could be, but that could be my first port of call

Has anyone else has experience with anemia ? Thanks
 
She was never tested so I can never be sure but my old TB mare reacted to just the recommended dose of garlic, she became lethargic and looked run down.
I can't even remember why i'd started feeding it (it was a few years ago) but she started to go downhill and I discovered by chance when i'd run out after a couple of months and hadn't a chance to buy any more - she picked back up again pretty quickly which got me wondering if the garlic was the cause as it was he only thing that had changed so I gave her a few weeks off it and then tried feeding it again and she most definitely went back downhill, of course then I felt guilty for trying it again but at least I knew what was causing the problem.
 
Garlic has been known to cause Heinz Anaemia in horses. I stopped feeding it to my old boy (now 28) MANY moons ago through some "odd" co-incidences. He had viral Anaemia one year which was picked up when he ended up with a chest infection, lethargic and a wound that wouldn't heal. He also had a lighter bleached coloured patch on his shoulder that would "sweat" The sweat would froth and run down his shoulder. I noticed every time when he was "off colour" this patch appeared. The vet just wouldn't believe me so I had him tested several times and the results were the same - bloods down. Each time I had to give him iron supplements. The patch has never returned since I stopped feeding garlic and he hasn't had anaemia since...


It is also very acidic which is not entirely helpful when you are trying to boost / balance immune systems. I have noticed that my Sweet Itch pony improved when I dropped it from his diet.

My personal preference is not to feed anything with garlic... just not worth the hassle. :)
 
Feeding garlic, especially at high levels, has always amazed me as it is linked to gastric ulcers, which in turn are linked to internal bleeding and anaemia.
 
Thanks for your replies, I've stopped the garlic I feel his gums were a little pinker even after only a few days, since it was only friday the lack of pinkness was pointed out to me!

I've been doing a gum survey on the horses on the yard and some others are pale too, and I know one of those definately has loads of garlic he stiinks of it, so I'll be telling his owner about it just in case, she can then make the choice.

Another vet from the practice is coming to the yard tomorrow so I'm going to ask him to have a look, I'm just panicing now and need to know if I should give him a vit and min supplement with iron or something
 
Personally I would give him a short course of Iron supplement - Propell or Red Cell n something like Pink Powder - just to settle the gut down again and encourage healthy gut flora etc. Providing there aren't any other "issues" going on your horse should return to normal fairly soon. :)
 
CrazyFriesian said:
Personally I would give him a short course of Iron supplement - Propell or Red Cell n something like Pink Powder - just to settle the gut down again and encourage healthy gut flora etc. Providing there aren't any other "issues" going on your horse should return to normal fairly soon. :)
Click to expand...

100% agree with this

I won't feed garlic to any of my horses now after my old mare had this exact problem, she very quickly picked up once I'd taken her off garlic. I gave her Equisup as it was recommended by my vet but basically is the same thing as Propell and Red Cell.
 
I have never fed garlic to any of our horses, the tremendous 'fashion' for it has IMO been ridiculous, it is not good for the immune system of the horse, just another money making ploy by the manufacturers.

I hope your mare is ok, but I would not bother feeding garlic to her is she were mine.
 
A broad spectrum balanced general vitamin & mineral supplement would be best. Feeding one element is fairly worthless as many need to interact with each other to obtain maximum efficiency.
 
EQUISCENE said:
A broad spectrum balanced general vitamin & mineral supplement would be best. Feeding one element is fairly worthless as many need to interact with each other to obtain maximum efficiency.
Click to expand...

I was thinking this, I'll see what my vet says later, I'll let you all know tomorrow

Thanks for the replies, its put my mind at rest a little, there has been no change in his behaviour, not lethargic or anything, that's why I was suprised when the vet that came out friday said there was something wrong, if you saw him, he doesn't look his age. Or act lke it !
 
Ok so had the vet yesterday afternoon, he said you have to consider the age and workload of the horse each is an individual, if you had a young horse in hard work he would expect its gums to be pink. My horse is 32 and ridden most days for approx and hour which he said is more than some who ride younger horses so thats good. He recommneded :

Feeding a general vit & min supplement
Feeding alfalfa as its good if low iron, currently on happy hoof as had lami few years back

I mentioned about the garlic and he said at the rate I was feeding prob wasnt' the cause however I have stopped it anyway just in case

Monitor him after doing above and check in 4-6 weeks
 
CrazyFriesian said:
Mmmmm. Thats what my vet said... Yet Con cant even "sniff" garlic and it comes back...:rolleyes:

Pink Powder is a good vit n min supplement with pre n pro biotics in it...

Hope your girlie feels better soon. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you, he's a boy by the way, I can't wait to get to the feed merchant on the weekend, the garlic is in the bin !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top