Scott says, "Seeing the improvement in condition and performance of the horses in my care, naturally, people asked what I was feeding... and from there a business was born.". for OMAFRA-funded research on how altering the amino acid balance of lactating cow rations can affect milk production and composition. Horses that have chronic liver disease progressing towards outright liver failure are likely to exhibit signs of weight loss, sensitivity to light, and increased susceptibility to sunburns. The liver is a crucial organ involved in detoxification and metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. This can be provided as dried powdered added to the feed or as brewed tea poured over the feed. It is recommended to begin feeding ground milk thistle seed powder at a rate of ~2 grams per day for a 500kg horse. Equine liver disease can also develop slowly over time. Minimum order total of $40 to receive free shipping. This drug is commonly used in horses with colitis. Lost your password? It can protect the liver from toxins, iron overload, and from the negative effects of fatty liver. Milk thistle seeds and leaves contain many bioactive compounds, collectively referred to as silymarin. One scoop of Visceral+ provides 3 grams of Milk Thistle whereas the recommended serving size for our pure Milk Thistle supplement is 4.5 grams per 500 kg of bodyweight. Perfect Bulk milk thistle powder can be given directly as a powder or brewed into a tea to pour over the feed. Good Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A scale should be used with all individual ingredients to ensure accurate dosing. Rate… Throughout her studies, Priska has maintained a strong connection to Animal Science, working with Trouw Nutrition on several modelling projects to better predict how feeding decisions affect farm animal outcomes. [2]. Use one of the allowed file type: jpg,png. Not for use in horses intended for food. The neurological signs of liver disease are caused by high levels of ammonia (hyperammonemia) circulating in the horse’s blood because the liver is no longer able to convert ammonia to urea. It breaks down toxins in the body for elimination and is therefore susceptible to injury or damage. It might also have benefits for horses affected by allergic reactions to Culcoides, also known as “sweet itch”. In humans, it has been shown to cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal upsets in a minority of people. Unable to find a well-formulated supplement at a fair price, he designed his own balanced mineral & vitamin premix. Milk thistle extract can also be given at the same time as dewormers (anthelmintics) or certain antibiotics to help support liver health. Attachments Other compounds found that may promote health benefits for horses inlcude: Silybin is the most biologically active compound in milk thistle extract. Milk thistle should not be given at the same time as the antibiotic metronidazole. Horses being treated for Lyme disease or Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) may also benefit from using this supplement. Milk Thistle, also known as St. Mary’s Thistle, is a Mediterranean plant that contains various active compounds collectively called silymarin which include silybin. Milk thistle may also work by supporting natural digestive function in horses. Milk thistle could provide nutritional support for horses with laminitis. Iron is not easily excreted by the body and excess accumulations are stored in liver tissue. Lost your password? Blood tests can also assess liver function by measuring the levels of bilirubin which is typically low in healthy horses. Consult your veterinarian if you are considering using milk thistle to increase milk production in mares. A blood test might also show elevated levels of liver enzymes indicating liver damage including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). If these plants are prevalent in your area, consider adding this supplement to your horse’s diet. In healthy horses, concentrated milk thistle extract in the form of silibinin phospholipid resulted in no adverse effects when given at a dose of up to 52 mg per kg of bodyweight (26 grams for a 500 kg horse) for one week on four separate occasions. Elderly horses and those with metabolic issues like insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, and Cushing’s disease are most likely to need nutritional support to help keep their liver healthy. While at Guelph, she worked at the Arkell Poultry and Equine Research Station where she assisted with daily care of the horses. In healthy horses, concentrated milk thistle extract in the form of silibinin phospholipid resulted in no adverse effects when given up to 52 mg per kg of bodyweight (26 grams for a 500kg horse) for one week on four separate occasions. Very Poor. Chronically high iron intake from the diet or water is known to cause liver damage in horses. [9]. The amount supplied by Visceral+ should be adequate to provide liver support to most horses, but if your horse has a specific liver concern then a higher dose may be recommended by your veterinarian or a qualified equine nutritionist. Mad Barn’s Milk thistle extract seed extract is a dried, powdered form of the seed of the Silybum marianum plant. In 2012, she received an M.Sc. Avoid supplements that contain added iron. Many horses can benefit from milk thistle due to improved antioxidant status and support of healthy liver function. If you suspect your horse has high exposure to iron in their feed or water, you may want to consider supplementing their diet with milk thistle. [6]. When ammonia is high in the brain it can affect the horse’s behaviour and movements. Easy keepers that tend to have cresty neck and other abnormal fat deposits might have excess fat in the liver. Milk thistle has been shown to accelerate liver cell regeneration by increasing RNA synthesis, and offers protection from blood toxins. Enter your email address below for exclusive promotions, coupon codes and the latest horse nutrition information! Increase the number of meals per day to spread out the feed over multiple meals. Milk thistle offers an anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory action. 354 Burritt St, Stratford ON, Canada N5A 0A3 | 226-240-2183, 7 Research-Backed Benefits of Milk Thistle Extract for Horses, Mad Barn’s Milk thistle extract seed extract, Submit your horse’s diet for analysis online, Pharmacokinetics and safety of silibinin in horses, Evaluation of antioxidant capacity and inflammatory cytokine gene expression in horses fed silibinin complexed with phospholipid, The iron-chelating potential of silybin in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis, “Silymarin”, a Promising Pharmacological Agent for Treatment of Diseases, Milk Thistle Extract and Silymarin Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide Induced Lamellar Separation of Hoof Explants in Vitro, Polyphenols from Silybum marianum inhibit in vitro the oxidant response of equine neutrophils and myeloperoxidase activity, Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L. It could provide nutritional support to horses that are prone to laminitis. More research in horses is needed to fully evaluate these claims. Milk Thistle is generally well tolerated in horses. Milk Thistle extract has potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects for horses. Dr. Priska Darani has had a lifelong passion for understanding how diet regulates metabolism and contributes to health in both humans and animals. Below are the top seven benefits of Milk Thistle extract based on research in horses: In humans that are genetically prone to iron overload, milk thistle seed was shown to decreased iron absorption. The main site of action of milk thistle extract is the liver and it has been well-researched for its effects on liver disease in humans. Milk Thistle is generally well tolerated in horses. In one study, tissue extracted from horse hooves was challenged with toxins and treated with milk thistle or silymarin.