small intestine. Maltose, sucrose, and lactose are split into their two monosaccharide units by the disaccharide enzymes maltose, sucrase, and lactase, which are produced in the intestine. These disaccharides are completely digested in the small intestine of the healthy horse. Can horses digest sugar? Most sport horses can eat a Read more…
Wild Carrot No matter which nomenclature you use, the cyanide compounds and neurotoxins contained therein are highly poisonous to horses. Is wild carrot poisonous? You must use extra caution when working around wild carrot as it looks very similar to poison hemlock, a deadly plant. It also exhibits mild toxicity Read more…
The disadvantages of molasses Molasses is not suitable as a source of energy for horses who are susceptible to laminitis. The latest view of horse nutritionists is that too much sugar in the horse’s diet (from roughage, especially grass, but also from hard feed) are the cause of laminitis. How Read more…
two pieces. For all treats mentioned above, the best amount to offer is “not very much.” This means that one or two pieces of any treat will be enough. Horses are programmed to eat small amounts of food on a continuous basis, so your horse will ALWAYS want another treat, Read more…
Xylitol is a sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs. Rabbits, cows, baboons and horses have also demonstrated sensitivity, although to a lesser extent. Are artificial sweeteners safe for horses? Artificial sweeteners are okay in small amounts. Are sugar-free mints OK for horses? If you are still concerned by the Read more…
According to researchers from Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky, “Stevioside, a glycoside [form of carbohydrate or sugar] derived from the leaves of the stevia plant, has been increasingly used as a sweetener for both horses and humans. Can horses stevia? Extracts derived from the leaves of Read more…
How Are Horses Sedated for Standing Procedures? Xylazine is mostly given intravenously, but it can also be used intramuscularly. Detomidine is the same kind of drug as xylazine, but it lasts much longer. Butorphanol is different than the other sedatives in that it is an opioid. What can be used Read more…
Blue: contains iodine and cobalt – while there is no hard evidence that cobalt is bad or toxic for horses, many owners leave the blue behind for the cattle owners. Horses need cobalt in their diets – about
It’s all about liquorice The word liquorice might be associated with the black sweet treat, but in its herb form, liquorice can be fed to horses for a number of reasons, including supporting the respiratory tract, liver and body systems. Is liquorice safe for horses? As a natural herb, liquorice Read more…
In horses, there are few reports in the literature about coffee poisoning, and most animals show clinical signs of excitability, involuntary muscle tremors, and chewing movements. Is caffeine harmful to horses? The concentrations of caffeine in the plasma (p < 0.001) and urine (p < 0.001) of these animals were Read more…