"MYCO-TOXINS"
- what are they and how can they affect our horses? Latest Information
including downloadable questionnaire.
Article by Jenny Paterson of HorsemanshipNZ.
The
following article contains information regarding myco-toxins.
To help further research this subject, we have included a questionnaire
for you to complete and forward to Jenny Paterson if you want to contribute
to her findings.
Click
here to download Myco-Toxin Questionnaire
(Word.doc format - 28kb)
Myco-Toxins are present
in our pastures and they are strong suspects in a wide variety of symptoms
and behaviours exhibited by our horses. Some of the symptoms, such as
crabbiness or tetchiness, or the odd cough, or persistent runny nose,
are so common we think they are 
normal.
Other manifestations are lethal, such as when they cause vaso-constriction,
which leads to hind-gut necrosis (the intestinal tract dies), acute colic
and inevitable death. One of the reasons I am so "on the case" is that
my most treasured horse died this way in July.
Did you know that it is actually a highly evolved association between the plant and endophyte. The host (grass plant) provides nutrients for endophyte growth and a means of dissemination thru the seed, whereas the endophyte is supposed to provide biological protection to the plant, including protection from mammalian and insect herbivory. At the time when the plant wants to grow, mature and seed, the endophyte produces the myco-toxins to make the plant unpalatable to animals and insects. Normally they would go search for unaffected plants to eat. Obviously this is not possible under farming practices where the animals are confined and have no choice.
Being a Horsemanship Instructor all around New Zealand, I meet a large number of people and their horses. Many of these horses exhibit the symptoms listed in the Questionnaire and more. One means of diagnosing a problem is to try different products and find what works. In this case a suitable product to try is a "toxin-binder" called Equigard, made by Nutritech. The toxin-binder adheres to the toxins in the gut and passes them out in the manure. This appears to reduce the load of myco-toxins entering the bloodstream, to be transported throughout the horses body. The immune system of the toxic horse can be severely depressed, often leading to 'secondaries', such as persistent hoof abcesses, viruses and so on.
Based on observations of horses that have been taking this product, I have been passing on these experiences to people, and in many cases they have also put their horses on the toxin-binder. The results have been overwhelming, sometimes in as little as a week, sometimes in 3-4 weeks. Many people who have been exasperated for years, spending a lot of time and money on every treatment available, have seen symptoms and behaviours vastly reduce and even completely disappear after a relatively short time on Equigard.
I must stress the
point that Equigard is not a 'cure' for all these problems. What it does
do is help prevent myco-toxins entering the bloodstream. Many of our horses
have been ingesting these toxins for prolonged periods and are most likely
to have a 'build-up' in their system, which will require diligent management
of pasture and feed intake to reduce. It is possible to test your pasture
for the most common myco-toxins, however, the results would depend on
the climatic conditions the day you colle
cted
the sample, so may not be indicative.
Basically follow the same procedure as for grass "staggers"
- if possible remove the horse from the source of toxicity, ie the grass
- obtain a toxin binder, such as Equigard, and administer according to the directions on the label
- remember when the spring grass comes away, it is important to be aware of possible magnesium deficiencies also.
The Toxin-binder should be available from feed stores, some saddlery stores, some vets and CRT. There are several options available:
- 1kg Equigard powder (to mix in feeds) $55.13
- 10kgs Pellets (ideal if you aren’t actually hard-feeding your horse) $85.50
- One months supply
of the pellets to trial $25
Please note that I do not work for Nutritech, however, as I am extremely interested in the results of the Questionnaire from the point of view of helping our horses, I have provided this information to make things easy for you, otherwise feel free to obtain them from another source.
It would be helpful to keep a record of when you started, how much you fed, day by day notes of improvements in symptoms and behaviours, and any other useful information.
I sincerely hope
that this information is helpful to you and your horse. Feel free to ring
or e-mail with any further queries you may have.
Email: horsemanshipnz@xtra.co.nz
Phone: (03) 3121 711
Thanking you.
Jenny Paterson
(NOTE - Jenny Paterson has provided this information for the interest of other horse owners, however, while she is recommending Equigard due to noticing that it can assist some horses, she is making no claims and holds no responsability for the use of this product. Jenny Paterson does not work for Nurtitech. The above prices and Equigard product information have been obtained from Nutritech, for further information please contact your local Nutritech agent.)