Garlic, is it really that bad!!!

[thatsmygirl]

I use to feed garlic to all my horses and have done for years but recently gave it up due to being told it's not great. Could I have more info please, all my horses are bare foot and believe it has something to do with the acid within the stomach? Could somebody please explain

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I have never heard this and am intrigued to hear about this

 

[5horses2dogsandacat]

Not heard this either... I heard it was good for the digestive system as it helped them break down food and use nutrients more efficiently, thats why even my filly gets it on her food. xx

 

[diddydavies]

Never heard of this. Always fed garlic to mine. been told it is good for their digestion which in turn helps their skin and coat, not to mention that if fed over a period of time it helps to keep away flies in the summer, maybe an old wives tale but seems to work.

 

[teddyt]

Garlic is anti-bacterial, so it can upset the digestive system. It can also boost the immune system, so shouldn't be used for sweet itch sufferers because their immune system is already working in over drive due to the midge saliva, so it can make sweet itch worse.
If feeding garlic, it is most effective in cycles of approx 6 weeks on, 6 weeks off (according to a qualified herbalist)

 

[Phoebe+Sophie]

My 20 year old has garlic and codliver supplement.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

garlic is toxic, it's actually toxic for quite a few species and if you google, there's alot of info that can lead you to make your own mind up.not enough (if anything!) is known about the toxicity of garlic when fed in small amounts.

for starters

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/nutrition/feeds/eqgarlic528/

 

[thatsmygirl]

I use to feed to help repel worms and yes flys but that never worked!! I believed it was a good general health herb but after Reading a few comments it made me think and stopped but would like to know more, somebody on here must know??

 

[TigerTail]

I have repeatedly cautioned against the feeding of garlic since years ago a
supplement manufacturer told me with some glee how it had just been proven
to be a more potent antimicrobial that a prescription drug. I found it was
indeed unsetting my horse's gut back then, and I know of a high level
competition horse who actually missed going to the Sydney Olympics because
of scours, which it had for most of the season, every year. They ceased when
it was finally taken off garlic.

So, as the subject apaprently came up again elsewhere, I decided to look out
some papers at long last. This first one must be the one he referred to:

1: Folia Microbiol (Praha) 1984;29(4):348-52 Related Articles, Links

A comparative study of raw garlic extract and tetracycline on caecal
microflora and serum proteins of albino rats.

Shashikanth KN, Basappa SC, Sreenivasa Murthy V.

Studies conducted on the comparative action of raw garlic extract and
tetracycline hydrochloride on equal concentrations showed the raw garlic
extract to be a more potent antimicrobial agent than tetracycline. The
reversion to normalcy of caecal microflora and serum proteins after the
withdrawal of test materials indicated an inverse relation between
intestinal microflora and serum globulins.

PMID: 6479758 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


1: Appl Environ Microbiol 2001 Jan;67(1):475-80 Related Articles, Links

Antimicrobial properties of garlic oil against human enteric bacteria:
evaluation of methodologies and comparisons with garlic oil sulfides and
garlic powder.

Ross ZM, O'Gara EA, Hill DJ, Sleightholme HV, Maslin DJ.
St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies, United Kingdom.

The antimicrobial effects of aqueous garlic extracts are well established
but those of garlic oil (GO) are little known. Methodologies for estimating
the antimicrobial activity of GO were assessed and GO, GO sulfide
constituents, and garlic powder (GP) were compared in tests against human
enteric bacteria. Test methodologies were identified as capable of producing
underestimates of GO activity. Antimicrobial activity was greater in media
lacking tryptone or cysteine, suggesting that, as for allicin, GO effects
may involve sulfhydryl reactivity. All bacteria tested, which included both
gram-negative and -positive bacteria and pathogenic forms, were susceptible
to garlic materials. (snip)

PMID: 6366484 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic.

Ankri S, Mirelman D.

Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot
76100, Israel.

Allicin, one of the active principles of freshly crushed garlic homogenates,
has a variety of antimicrobial activities. Allicin in its pure form was
found to exhibit i) antibacterial activity against a wide range of
Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant
enterotoxicogenic strains of Escherichia coli; ii) antifungal activity,
particularly against Candida albicans; iii) antiparasitic activity,
including some major human intestinal protozoan parasites such as Entamoeba
histolytica and Giardia lamblia; and iv) antiviral activity. The main
antimicrobial effect of allicin is due to its chemical reaction with thiol
groups of various enzymes, e.g. alcohol dehydrogenase, thioredoxin
reductase, and RNA polymerase, which can affect essential metabolism of
cysteine proteinase activity involved in the virulence of E. histolytica.

PMID: 10594976 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Int J Antimicrob Agents 1999 Aug;12(3):257-62 Related Articles, Links

Antimicrobial activity of spices.

Arora DS, Kaur J.

Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.

Spices have been shown to possess medicinal value, in particular,
antimicrobial activity. This study compares the sensitivity of some human
pathogenic bacteria and yeasts to various spice extracts and commonly
employed chemotherapeutic substances. Of the different spices tested only
garlic and clove were found to possess antimicrobial activity. The
bactericidal effect of garlic extract was apparent within 1 h of incubation
and 93% killing of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi was
achieved within 3 h. Yeasts were totally killed in 1 h by garlic extract but
in 5 h with clove. Some bacteria showing resistance to certain antibiotics
were sensitive to extracts of both garlic and clove. Greater anti-candidal
activity was shown by garlic than by nystatin. Spices might have a great
potential to be used as antimicrobial agents.

PMID: 10461845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

I knew garlic produced allergic reactions and contact dermatitis, but I
never knew about 'garlic burns'!!

1: J Nutr. 2001 Mar;131(3s):1109S-13S. Related Articles, Links

Effects of garlic preparations on the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Hoshino T, Kashimoto N, Kasuga S.

1st Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of
Medicine, Kawasaki 216-0015, Japan.

The effects of garlic preparations, including dehydrated raw garlic powder
(RGP), dehydrated boiled garlic powder (BGP) and aged garlic extract (AGE),
on the gastric mucosa were determined using a newly established endoscopic
air-powder delivery system, which can deliver solid materials directly into
the stomach. Among the three preparations, RGP caused severe damage,
including erosion. BGP also caused reddening of the mucosa, whereas AGE did
not cause any undesirable effects. The safety of enteric-coated garlic
products was also determined. Direct administration of pulverized
enteric-coated products on the gastric mucosa caused reddening of the
mucosa. When an enteric-coated tablet was administered orally, it caused
loss of epithelial cells at the top of crypts in the ileum. These results
suggest that caution be used with regard to safety and effectiveness when
choosing a garlic preparation because some preparations may have undesirable
effects, including gastrointestinal problems.

PMID: 11238827 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Cytobios. 1983;37(146):85-9. Related Articles, Links


An evaluation of the side effects of garlic as an antihypertensive agent.

Ruffin J, Hunter SA.

Eight spontaneously hypertensive rats representative of a diverse group with
regard to age and sex were used to observe possible side effects from the
use of garlic as an antihypertensive agent. Doses were administered at 6 h
intervals daily for 28 days. Blood pressure, pulse rate and ECG were
monitored once every 7 days for 28 days and then again 6 days after the day
that the last dose was administered. All of the animals had erratic pulse
rates and abnormal ECG. Weight loss occurred in all of the animals receiving
the extract two and three times a day. All of the animals tested became
lethargic and weak, had soft faeces and showed signs of dehydration. Also,
the skin on the hindlimbs and forelimbs became very tender and could be
easily torn. These effects were more pronounced in the animals receiving the
extract two and three times a day.

PMID: 6617260 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Garlic poisoning.

Research has shown that horses will voluntarily consume enough
garlic to cause toxic effects. A study carried out under the direction of Dr
Michael Lindinger at the University of Guelph looked at whether horses would
eat food that contained enough garlic to cause poisoning.
Eating too much garlic produces a specific type of anaemia associated
with the presence of "Heinz bodies" in the red blood cells. The research
team first noticed toxic effects within four days of increasing the dose of
freeze-dried garlic to 0.2g/kg twice daily. The toxic effects were
reversible. After the garlic administration finished, the anaemia resolved
over a five-week follow- up period.

Garlic basically destroys the bacteria in the horses gut that they use to ferment food - dont feed it.

 

[gill84]

One of mine is allergic to it. Brings her out in big lumps all over her body

 

[Chellebean]

My boy has garlic! And has never had any issues also reduced fly bits too

 

[thatsmygirl]

Tigertails thanks very much for that info.

 

[Pocket_Rocket]

I've always given my boy garlic aswell and he's barefoot I find it helps to deter the flies in the summer months. I breed rabbits to and have given them garlic I use it as a mild wormer and kills of any nasty's. Touch wood i've never had a problem. Very interesting to read other people's views though.

 

[Lady La La]

I stear well clear of it...

 

[Dizzle]

I don't feed it to my horse because of the above reasons.

Funnily enough, my nan has always refused to eat garlic, saying she's allergic to it. She's also now been diagnosed with stomach ulcers no idea if the two facts are related of course but I found it interesting!

 

[Chellebean]

Meant to say my boy is barefoot too! And omg he grows horn like no tomorrow lol

 

[winterwood]

Maybe we should see if the horse would choose to have garlic if given a choice. By putting it in the feed we are kind of forcing it on him/her.

Take a look at the link

http://www.ingraham.co.uk/

 

[amandap]

I learned a few years ago about it's antimicrobial effects. I wouldn't feed it because I want to support my horses gut flora all I can. They need their good gut bugs to digest forage.

 

[hannahmurphy]

Garlic is fantastic. It's great for the respiratory system so is great for the lungs, coughs & anything wind related. It has great healing properties being an anti-septic & anti-inflammatory. It helps deter worms, is a natural fly repellent.

The only danger is caused by over feeding it. If you over do it, it can cause anemia in horses. But then again you can cause problems by over feeding a lot of things .....


Also I love garlic myself, in fact I've just munched a load of raw garlic so at least I've got the horse to try and pass off the smell

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Maybe we should see if the horse would choose to have garlic if given a choice. By putting it in the feed we are kind of forcing it on him/her.

Take a look at the link

http://www.ingraham.co.uk/

I have an Exmoor that will eat anything (including holly) and all mine will eat privet. just because they will eat it, doesn't make it good for them.

after all, I eat all sorts of things that aren't good for me! and while I think horses will graze on what they need-they cannot be relied upon to only eat what's good for them.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I wont feed garlic anymore , garlic is from the onion family which is poisonous to horse, also garlic can cause behavioral problems too.

 

[Chellebean]

Put it this way I have fed garlic and magox! After ten days with magox he won't touch his feed. He smells it and moves back to haylage. Remove magox and feed his normal feed with garlic and he eats the majority of it! Think he tells me in his own way

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

The only danger is caused by over feeding it. If you over do it, it can cause anemia in horses. But then again you can cause problems by over feeding a lot of things .....

Agree with this, I think it is over feeding that 'could' be a problem as is the same for so many things, but i dont know. If you research alot of things for human or animal consumption you will find some places saying it is bad for you and others saying it is good for you

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Garlic is fantastic. It's great for the respiratory system so is great for the lungs, coughs & anything wind related. It has great healing properties being an anti-septic & anti-inflammatory. It helps deter worms, is a natural fly repellent.

how? do you have any references particularly wrt to horses and other hind gut fermenters that demonstrates these effects?

I love garlic too!(for me!)

 

[hannahmurphy]

If you research alot of things for human or animal consumption you will find some places saying it is bad for you and others saying it is good for you

Good/bad/healthy/unhealthy/fattening/thinning/fights cancer/causes cancer/for/against etc etc etc arguments, research, facts and fiction applies to LITERALLY EVERYTHING!!!!!

 

[amandap]

I have a slight problem with offering horses substances and using their reaction to guide our feeding. Horses choose stuff offered for all sorts of reasons and because they accept it once or twice doesn't necessarily mean they need or want it eyery day in their feed. The smell of something on your hands might interact with the substance for example.

The negative effects on gut flora vastly outweigh any possible positive effects imo. Put garlic in sprays if you want to use it as a fly repellent!

 

[lelly]

If Garlic is fed daily it can cause anemia. I was reasearching the advantages of feeding garlic and decided not to because of this. It was said if you want to feed garlic never over feed and only give it ten days at a time with at least two weeks in between.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Good/bad/healthy/unhealthy/fattening/thinning/fights cancer/causes cancer/for/against etc etc etc arguments, research, facts and fiction applies to LITERALLY EVERYTHING!!!!!

Precisely!

Its hard to tell whats for the best really

 

[Denzalwood]

I have to say, the most important thing about Horses is that "They are Individuals" what works for some will make another quite ill, just like people, I myself are allergic to the most incredible drug of the 20th century *Penicilin* so to say that some Horses may not react well to Garlic is harldy hot news, it is simply nature, as with all things Horsey it might work but it might not if it doesnt then you'll try something else and so on. As I find with increasing regularity in Horse circles *a little knowledge is a dangerous thing* I'm not saying Garlic is good or otherwise, some of my Horses love it and some don't, the ones that like it suffer no harmfull effects and I indeed see a marked reduction in fly bites.

 

[treacle_beastie]

well i have fed a daily garlic ration to my horse for over 3 years to aid her respiratory system and have never had any issues with it! Its the same as anything...it may cause xyz in some horses but not others. I'm not going to stop feeding it!