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When the metabolism is overloaded

How does the horse’s metabolism work?

Answering this question could fill several books. We will attempt to explain it briefly here.

What the metabolism does

“Metabolism” refers to the process by which substances in food are broken down in the intestine, absorbed, and then transformed and processed in the body, with waste products being excreted. In order for these processes to take place, oxygen and water are also necessary. The body is a chemical factory that works around the clock to sustain itself, grow, move, and reproduce. To achieve this, trillions of chemical reactions occur in all cells and tissues at all times. There are both anabolic and catabolic processes, along with many reactions that regulate these processes. For the metabolism to function smoothly, the body must be supplied with all essential nutrients, and the detoxification pathways must be open to allow for the effective disposal of waste products.

Horse is flehming
Frequent yawning or flehmen can indicate liver problems. © mavcon / Adobe Stock

The functions of individual organs

Intestine

A portion of the waste from feed remains directly in the intestines and is excreted, but this is the smallest part. The majority of the feed components, around 85%, are absorbed and transported from the intestine to the liver via the so-called portal vein system. The cells of the intestinal lining play an important role as “sorters,” as all substances that are absorbed must first pass through these cells. Incompatible substances should be rejected here. At the same time, many immune system cells are located in the intestinal lining, which are also involved in preventing incompatible substances and pathogens from entering the body. If the intestinal lining is damaged, due to inflammation or the Leaky Gut Syndrome, these substances can pass through the intestinal wall, putting strain on the horse’s metabolism.

Liver

The liver is the second major sorting station and the body’s most important chemical factory. It is responsible for sorting, converting, storing, or making available all the nutrients absorbed through the digestive system, providing them to the body in new forms via the bloodstream. It not only regulates blood sugar levels by filtering out sugar and converting it into glycogen or fat, but also manages protein supply, fat metabolism, stores many vitamins and trace elements, and, not least, acts as the body’s primary waste processor. Waste products left over from protein or fat metabolism, as well as absorbed toxins, medications, and by-products from the body’s own metabolism, are neutralised in complex detoxification processes and then converted into forms that can be excreted.

Bile

A small portion of waste is excreted through the bile into the intestine and then eliminated via the faeces.

Kidneys

The majority of waste is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is excreted in the urine. In the kidneys, the fluid from the blood is initially pressed into the kidney’s tubular system. This primary urine also contains all the important nutrients dissolved in water, such as minerals, trace elements, hormones, and so on. The role of the kidneys is to filter the nutrients back into the bloodstream and to leave waste products, such as urea and other substances coming from the liver, in the urine for elimination. This is a strenuous task, and any additional burden, such as high blood sugar levels, medication, or chilling of the kidneys, makes the process more difficult. In the end, the urine is passed from the kidneys to the bladder, where it is collected until it is excreted. It contains all the waste products and no important nutrients.

What happens when the metabolism is overwhelmed?

Diverse Range of Symptoms

Metabolic diseases that can arise due to insufficient liver and/or kidney function are varied and range from musculoskeletal disorders to Cushing’s disease, EMS, PSSM, laminitis, insulin resistance, Kryptopyrrolurie, and many others. Skin diseases such as mud fever or summer eczema, allergies, and a weakened immune system (susceptibility to infections, poor wound healing, worm infestations) can also occur.

Feeding as a Cause

If the overload is feed-related, symptoms are often seen in digestion, such as loose stools, diarrhoea, bloating, colic tendencies, and stiffness or difficulty moving under the rider.

When should you take action?

If liver and kidney values in the blood work become concerning, it’s already “five to twelve.” Therefore, pay attention to early markers of metabolic issues. If you notice the symptoms listed below in your horse, it’s time for a detox or cleansing treatment. If metabolic disorders are already known, please seek professional therapeutic advice, as some horses with chronically damaged organs may not tolerate standard detox treatments.

How can I recognise metabolic disorders in my horse?

Liver and kidney issues can be quite easily identified by typical symptoms. If you observe several of these early markers in your horse, it is highly likely that a metabolic problem is present.

Early indicators of liver problems. Early indicators of kidney problems.
© OKAPI GmbH

What to do in case of metabolic disorders?

Adjusting the Diet

For a horse with metabolic overload, the feed should first be optimised to around 1.5–3 kg of low-sugar hay per 100 kg of body weight, along with a suitable concentrate feed, possibly supplemented with an appropriate mineral feed. Sugar, high protein levels, and oils must be strictly avoided. Carrots, bread, and haylage should also not be fed. The transition should be made gradually over a period of 4 weeks. It may be necessary to perform a colon restoration beforehand.

Detoxify

To support general detoxification, we recommend OKAPI Spirulina (in powder or pellet form), an algae that binds toxins, making it easier for the body to eliminate them.

What to do in case of acidosis?

In the case of acidosis, a 4-week course with OKAPI Prodic and OKAPI Zinc Plus is recommended, so that the tissue can be “re-hydrated” more effectively.

Supporting the Liver and Kidneys

You can specifically support the liver with OKAPI Liver Support, which contains concentrated plant-based silymarin, and simultaneously support the kidneys with OKAPI Detox Herbs to stimulate waste elimination. Please only administer OKAPI Liver Support if detoxification disorders (such as Kryptopyrrolurie: KPU) can be ruled out. It has proven effective to provide horses with metabolic issues a two-week rotation of OKAPI Grazing Herbs, OKAPI Detox Herbs, OKAPI Bitter Herbs, and OKAPI Immuno Herbs after the acute course, in order to support liver and kidney function in the long term. Alternatively, feeding OKAPI Seasonal Feeds ensures that your horse is provided with seasonally appropriate herbs at all times. OKAPI Seasonal Feeds offers a healthy feed supplement or alternative.

Ease the Coat Change

To support your horse through the coat change, administering OKAPI Zinc Plus, OKAPI Sulphur Plus, and OKAPI Detox Herbs can help them get through this kidney-stressing period more easily.

Horse during coat change
© Adobe Stock/Talitha

More on this: in the online seminar “Civilisation Diseases of the Horse” or in podcast #20: Detox, Cleanse, Eliminate – Does My Horse Need This?

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