Anyone who has dealt with organ values in a horse’s blood test knows that liver and kidney problems are not always easy to identify, and some values only respond when there are already significant impairments.
I often see horse owners feeling uncertain and opting to give various supplements preventively to avoid being “too late” for something. That’s why today I want to introduce some early markers that indicate increased activity or metabolic issues.
Liver Stripes (vertical stripes on the horse's body)
These are very spontaneous early markers that can appear overnight. I recommend waiting a few days first. If they disappear after a few days, no intervention is necessary. This can occur due to significant weather changes, the first cold nights, after vaccinations or deworming, or from heavily contaminated hay.
King’s Coins (black spots on chestnuts, white spots on dark horses)
These are clear early markers of liver overload. They also appear fairly suddenly (within a few days) and should prompt action. They usually only disappear with the next coat change, even if you support your horse in the meantime.
Stipple Hairs
On chestnuts, blacks, and browns, they are white, while on greys they tend to be dark brown to black. Important: This refers to stipple hairs that appear suddenly, not color patterns that have always been there or grey hairs on the face 😊. In the picture, you can see a cluster of stipple hairs on Kiksi’s neck that formed within about a week, indicating liver and kidney overload.
Bloating and Flatulence
These are early markers of problems in the gut flora. The environment in a horse’s intestines is very sensitive and can be disturbed or changed by various factors. If these symptoms occur, action should be taken. Worse consequences can include watery feces, diarrhea, or colic.
Excessive Allergic Reactions
If your horse reacts extremely sensitively to dust or detergents (for example, with hives), this can indicate two potential issues. First, it may stem from gut flora problems, as about 80% of all immune cells are located in the horse's gut. Secondly, the kidneys might be overloaded since they regulate hormones. In such cases, the allergic reaction can often be significantly reduced by addressing the underlying issue.
Edema, Gall, Swollen Legs
Horses with excessive water retention typically have kidney issues. The kidneys are responsible for water balance and osmotic pressure in the cells. Such warning signals should be taken very seriously, as the kidneys are not regenerable, and damage cannot truly be reversed.
These early markers often appear before more severe metabolic disorders occur, such as laminitis, summer eczema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), watery feces, colic, diarrhea, hoof cancer, and more. Therefore, as horse owners, you should keep an eye out for these signs and intervene if they occur frequently. Often, these early signs are noticed by outsiders who do not see your horses daily. Men can be particularly helpful because they tend to view the horses objectively and interpret less when they are not horse people themselves 😊.
A common question that arises is: What should I do if I notice these early markers in my horse? It would be great if I could provide a blanket answer here. However, I cannot. But I can share some thoughts and ideas with you:
Removing the Load
The most important step is often overlooked. We are inclined today to simply give something to atone for our guilt. However, the true art lies in first removing the stressor. What is putting such strain on the metabolism or gut flora? Are you feeding feed with synthetic additives (nutritional supplements)? Are you giving medications? Is your basic feed contaminated with mold, fungi, bacteria, or mycotoxins? Are you feeding acidic basic feed (silage, haylage)? Are you giving a supplement that demands lactic acid bacteria in the gut (non-molassed sugar beet pulp, high percentage of apple pomace, effective microorganisms)? Are there environmental stressors your horse is exposed to?
The questions are numerous, but it is worth investigating and removing the trigger.
If you're eager to dive deeper into these topics and discover how to effectively support your horse—and ideally prevent these issues—then don't miss out! Join my online feeding course now and empower yourself with the knowledge and tools to ensure your horse's health and well-being. Secure your spot today! Here.
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