What Does Milk Thistle Do For Horses?

Milk Thistle extract has potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects for horses. It can protect the liver from toxins, iron overload, and from the negative effects of fatty liver. It might help to support liver function and detoxification.

How much milk thistle can you give a horse?

It is recommended to begin feeding ground milk thistle seed powder at a rate of ~2 grams per day for a 500kg horse. You can gradually increase the feeding rate over a few weeks to the recommended maintenance dose of 4.5 grams per day for a 500kg horse.

How long does it take for milk thistle to work?

How Long Does Milk Thistle Take to Work. There isn’t an exact science behind this, but generally it can take around 3 to 4 months before someone will see any benefits of milk thistle on their health, and this is after daily intake of some form of milk thistle.

Is milk thistle good for laminitis?

Veterinarians can recommend milk thistle for the treatment of equine liver disease and laminitis.

Is thistle good for horses?

For the most part, members of the thistle family—those with blue, pink, or purple flowers—are harmless and safe for horses to nibble. However, a few species of thistle are toxic to horses. The most widespread toxic thistle is the yellow star thistle, which is found in the western United States, especially California.

How long should you feed milk thistle to horses?

Feed between 10 – 40 grams per day for at least 4 – 6 weeks for optimum nutritional support. 1 x 25 ml scoop weighs approx. 14 grams If feeding for an average 500kg horse at the lower rate this product should last you 100 days.

What are the side effects of milk thistle?

Milk thistle can cause: Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating. Itchiness. Headache.

What does milk thistle cure?

Historically, people have used milk thistle for liver disorders and gallbladder problems. Milk thistle is promoted as a dietary supplement for hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, diabetes, indigestion, and other conditions.

Can you overdo milk thistle?

Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label. Do not use different forms (tablets, liquid, extract, teas, etc) of milk thistle at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose.

Can milk thistle reverse liver damage?

Milk thistle will not reverse existing liver damage, and it will not cure infection with the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus. Milk thistle should not be used by people who have complications from cirrhosis (such as variceal bleeding or ascites).

What is the best thing to give a horse with laminitis?

For a laminitic prone horse/pony, low sugar roughage sources may include Teff hay, Rhodes grass hay, lucerne hay, beet pulp or soaked grass hay. Some specialist feed suppliers have analysis available. Look for less than 10-12% NSC.

Is apple cider vinegar good for horses with laminitis?

Improves digestion
Because of this, using apple cider vinegar for horses with laminitis can help to reduce the risk of it reoccurring, along with proper care.

What feeds should be avoided in horses with liver dysfunction?

Feeding the horse with liver disease
Avoid feeds containing high levels of crude protein e.g. alfalfa, soyabean meal, clover. Avoid haylage. Avoid grains (other than cracked / flaked oats and maize). Some complete pure high fibre diet pellets are ok.

What are 3 things horses should not eat?

Here are eight foods you should never feed your horse:

• Chocolate. ©russellstreet/Flickr CC.
• Persimmons.
• Avocado.
• Lawn clippings.
• Pitted fruits.
• Bread.
• Potatoes and other nightshades.
• Yogurt or other milk products.

What is a favorite treat for a horse?

Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas. Most horses will chew these treats before swallowing, but horses that gulp large pieces of a fruit or vegetable have a risk of choking.

What is the difference between thistle and milk thistle?

While all thistles share similarities, only milk thistle has green and white marbled leaves. Both bull thistle and milk thistle have sharp, spiny bracts surrounding the flower head, but those found on bull thistle are smaller and denser.

Is it better to feed a horse in the morning or evening?

If you feed your horse twice a day, you should feed it after 12 or so hours. If you feed your horse small meals more than twice a day, you should feed it around dawn every day, and all the successive meals should be no more than four to six hours apart.

What feed to calm a horse down?

Fibrous feeds that are fermented in the hindgut to release energy are the most natural and also the ‘coolest’ sources of energy for horses. Using forages like pasture, hay, and chaff to provide the majority of the energy in your horse’s diet will help to keep your horse calm and responsive.

Do horses graze more at night or day?

Though horses allowed free access to pasture graze more or less continuously, peak grazing periods occur just after dawn and just before dark. They spend about 70% of daylight hours and about 50% of night hours grazing.

Who should not use milk thistle?

Before taking milk thistle, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical conditions, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Milk thistle may not be recommended in some situations.

Is milk thistle good for liver repair?

Liver healing and regeneration
Milk thistle helps stop oxidative stress and free radical damage in the liver. Research shows milk thistle restores damaged cells. Silymarin also protects the liver against damage from alcohol and some prescription drugs.