Garlic

[warrior_pony]

So I've heard a bit about garlic being toxic to horses (or something along those lines), recently I stated giving my boy garlic and he has being very lazy and not willing to work like he was before. He has also started doing little bucks, could this be linked to feeding garlic?

 

[be positive]

It is toxic and can irritate the hind gut so could well explain your horses behaviour, cut it out and see if he improves.

 

[Goldenstar]

Garlic is not a good thing to give to horses .

 

[Kylara]

Garlic thins the blood (amongst other unhelpful things) and can cause anemia. Garlic shouldn't be fed to anything (including people, bleh horrible stuff). No idea why people always suggest feeding it. I'd stop feeding and maybe get a vet to check bloods for anemia just in case he needs a boost

 

[Shay]

Garlic is not all bad if fed in moderation and for short periods. It does have an active ingredient which - if fed fresh and in large amounts - will cause anemia. Most, if not all of this, (Allicin) is destroyed when heat dried. Garlic is an anti inflammatory and contains naturally occurring MSM. Some say it deters flies and improves the efficiency of wormers - not sure about either claim myself. It is also useful in the management of an acute phase of stable cough.

But it is also important not to over feed and not to feed for long periods. be positive is right that it can cause changes in the hind gut bacteria. If garlic was the only thing to change recently, cut that out and see what happens.

 

[Amye]

Uh oh this thread has me a little worried.

I am feeding my boy on dried garlic daily (the stuff you can buy from feed shops). I'm feeding on advice that came from lots of liveries that it helps with the flies etc. Should i reduce the amount he gets until he gets none now? I don't want to cause him any adverse affects and lots of feed places seem to recommend it to aid in fly repelling, blood circulation etc.

Is there anything that is a better replacement for it?

I don't feed mine lots of supplements, he only gets chaff, garlic and comfort gut and he's a good doer so doesn't get fed much through summer at all. I was a newbie to the horse owning and followed advice of the liveries

 

[tallyho!]

Garlic does not deter flies or else we'd be hanging it around everyone's necks

That's the biggest myth ever and should be banned from being advertised as such...

 

[Tyssandi]

So I've heard a bit about garlic being toxic to horses (or something along those lines), recently I stated giving my boy garlic and he has being very lazy and not willing to work like he was before. He has also started doing little bucks, could this be linked to feeding garlic?

I would say yes as garlic is from the onion family and onions are poisonous. It can and does effect horses temperament and behaviour , so I would stop it asap. I never give my horses garlic and never will again.

 

[Tyssandi]

Uh oh this thread has me a little worried.

I am feeding my boy on dried garlic daily (the stuff you can buy from feed shops). I'm feeding on advice that came from lots of liveries that it helps with the flies etc. Should i reduce the amount he gets until he gets none now? I don't want to cause him any adverse affects and lots of feed places seem to recommend it to aid in fly repelling, blood circulation etc.

Is there anything that is a better replacement for it?

I don't feed mine lots of supplements, he only gets chaff, garlic and comfort gut and he's a good doer so doesn't get fed much through summer at all. I was a newbie to the horse owning and followed advice of the liveries

There is no scientific proof that garlic helps with the flies, I found it made no odds at all and would rather use Power Phaser than garlic.

 

[Shay]

Without making too horrible a pun... its horses for courses. There is evidence that garlic repels some types if flies and in some equids (and in some humans too) but it depends on the metabolism of the animal in question as to whether the active components are excreted in sweat or not - and whether the types of flies you have actually respond to that. So species are more averse to the scent than others.

We each make our own choices of course - but the chemicals in the heavy duty fly sprays have a significant adverse impact on both human and equine health as well as being extremely toxic to the environment. My personal choice is not to use them - look at the safety warnings on the powerphaser recommended above for example!

OP - if Garlic was the only change you made then change it back and see what happens. It could well be other factors causing the problem. If you want to use chemical based fly sprays then do so - but do read the labels and be aware of the dangers they pose. If you want to use herbal based fly sprays do that too. Your horse - your choice. The scares about feeding garlic are over stated IMO. Especially when compared with the issues posed from overuse of chemical based fly spray.