Allergy
Allergies: are they caused environmentally ?
We read increasingly about horses with allergies. The expression "allergies" is used for practically any and all unexplained conditions as many horses have wind or skin problems.
In essence, an allergy is a hysterical reaction or an overreaction of the immune system. It is a warning that something is wrong with the metabolism.
There can be many sources for such reactions and in most cases allergies are connected to the wrong feed for the animal. The better we feed the animal, the less cause there is for metabolic end products, for metabolic waste products and the less strain is placed on the immune system.
The skin is one of the most important excretion organs. Many of the toxins and metabolic waste products are excreted with sweat.
Thus the skin is an excellent indicator for negative metabolic processes and therefore of feeding.
Feeding minerals plays a very important role as a sort of software that will make certain metabolic reactions possible and will support the immune system as well as the regeneration system.
Those who believe that they can compensate by means of mineral blocks or "poor" mineral feed have got the wrong concept.
If your horse suffers from an allergy, then the feed plan should be reconsidered. An adapted feed plan plus a decent mineral supplement can work wonders, as many allergies are "homemade".
Mycotoxins, the undiscovered danger.
The risks of damage by poisonous moulds, mycotoxins, to the human body have been intensively discussed by human medicine experts. Where horses are concerned, there is little information.
The visible damage by mould to hay or silage is bad enough, but almost as dangerous is the unseen mould (mycotoxins). Practically any feed can be attacked by mould, immaterial whether hay, straw, silage, grain or mixed feedstuff / muesli. The more open-pore the feedstuff is, whether by crushing, rolling or hydrothermal opening, the greater the danger from toxins.
Beware especially of toxins from Fusarium and Aspergillus like Zealalerone, T2 toxin, Aflatoxin, and Ochratoxin.
Next to liver and kidney damage we can find neurological disorders, changes in character, reduced fertility, weight loss, digestive system disorders, anemia, problems with cell maturity and wind problems.
Often a "hay allergy" is a reaction to mycotoxins in the grain ration. Nasal ingestion of harmful elements can be kept down by wetting the hay, however oral ingestion is another matter.
This danger increases due to climatic changes especially during hot or humid summers. Several international studies have proven that up to 54% of feedstuffs (especially pellets and mixed feed) are contaminated by mycotoxins.
What are the solutions?
Examine the quality of feedstuff you currently use. Don't buy cheap, buy quality. Store your feed and bedding dry and cool. Do not crush your grain for storage, especially open-pore feed like oats, maize or barley as well as pellets and muesli are in danger of contamination by mycotoxins and will be ruined by poor storage.
Many sources will are offering antiquated means for solving such problems, with insufficient degrees of detoxification.
A number of products like Bentonit, Siliziumdioxide and diverse aluminium oxides are being brought back and given fancy names to solve for a number of problems.
30 or 40 years ago, based on the then existing research and development, such products offered as an acceptable cure.
In the world of nonorganic "filter products" one speaks about "colloidals" for the upgrading of such products, but what is a colloidal? One could say it is a kind of powdered substance.
What is a Siliziumdioxide? This is quartz, an industrial product of economical value and with many uses.
Bentonit however, is a powdered clay, also used as aggregate for feline toilets,
Today we can filter 8 times more in types and amounts of mycotoxins from the organism with an organic polymer glycomannan which has another massive advantage. It will leave important trace elements right where they belong, in the organism and will not filter them from the body with the mycotoxins.
Are you interested? Then try our DETOX1 - mycotoxin