Many horse owners feed various supplements to balance diets, to enhance performance or to address certain diseases. The supplement market is highly profitable and poorly regulated, leading to a growing number of products of variable efficacy and safety on our local stores’ shelves and online. Unfortunately, not all supplements are safe for all horses. This was the case for Ella who developed mild laminitis two weeks after starting a new supplement. Without any other changes to Ella’s health, feeding, and exercise regimes, it is likely the new supplement was the cause. The good news is that Ella is responding well to treatment. Her unfortunate case helps to serve as a warning to all horse owners: Consult with one of our veterinarians before starting any new feed supplement. Ella’s case is not unique as some products have caused other diseases including colic and diarrhea in a few of our community’s horses.
Word of Warning: A study performed in 2002 at the Veterinary College at the University of Guelph evaluated the contents of 13 different probiotics. Only 2 of the 13 products actually contained the type and concentration of organisms claimed on the label. Most products had low concentrations of viable (live) organisms. Three products contained organisms not listed on the label, some of which could be potentially pathogenic (disease-causing). Scary!