This week, we examine how dopamine affects horses with PPID.

There is a significant link between dopamine, diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and the symptoms commonly associated with PPID. So today, I share various lifestyle and nutritional ways horse owners can support dopamine levels in their horses.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for motor skills, cognitive abilities, and the reward system, so it is vital for physical and mental health. Low dopamine levels in horses can lead to lethargy, depression, and poor concentration.

Dopamine plays a significant role in the reward system, and it also controls the overproduction of hormones like ACTH. When dopamine-producing brain cells degenerate, ACTH levels rise, leading to overworked pituitary glands and inflammation.

Stress and lifestyle factors can significantly impact dopamine levels in horses with PPID. Dopamine plays a crucial role in mood regulation, motivation, and overall well-being, so when horses are chronically stressed or have frequent inflammation, dopamine levels can drop. By addressing environmental stressors, changing diet, and providing a stable environment, owners can improve the dopamine levels of their horses.

Toxic hindgut conditions, often caused by poor diet and lack of movement, can negatively impact the microbiome of horses, leading to lower dopamine and serotonin levels. Unhealthy gut conditions also contribute to metabolic issues and hormonal imbalances, which can complicate health issues.

Connection Between Dopamine, ACTH, Cortisol, and Insulin

There is a relationship between dopamine, ACTH, cortisol, and insulin levels. Low dopamine leads to higher ACTH and cortisol levels, which increases blood sugar and insulin production. That imbalance is particularly problematic for horses with conditions like laminitis, so early intervention is essential to prevent further deterioration.

Managing conditions like PPID requires a holistic approach that focuses on diet, lifestyle, and mental and emotional health. As there is no quick fix for those chronic conditions, consistent management practices are essential for preventing disease progression and supporting horse health.

Maintaining dopamine levels through lifestyle changes and reward-based training is crucial. By engaging their horses in learning and activities that stimulate dopamine production, owners can help preserve their brain cell integrity and potentially slow the progression of PPID.

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This week, we focus on Cushing syndrome, now known as PPID.

There is currently an epidemic of horses being diagnosed with this issue. It is a complex condition involving much chemistry and many hormones. So, I will continue exploring it in the next few episodes.

Even though the term Cushing's Syndrome in the horse health industry recently transitioned to Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), I still prefer referring to it as Cushing's Syndrome, as that term encompasses the complexity of the condition, which involves multiple glands, not just the pituitary gland.

Cushing’s Syndrome might be defined more accurately as a hormonal imbalance rather than a pituitary issue. It is a complex condition involving many hormones and bodily systems, and many believe that underlying factors such as diet and lifestyle contribute to it, as it cannot be due to random occurrences.

Stress and inflammation are the key contributors to developing PPID or Cushing's Syndrome. When overstimulated due to stress or inflammation, the pituitary gland produces ACTH, leading to an overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands. That hormonal imbalance can lead to various health issues in horses over time.

In advanced stages of PPID or Cushing's Syndrome, a growth known as an adenoma may develop on the pituitary gland, which complicates treatment. Addressing the underlying causes, like diet and lifestyle, can sometimes reverse early-stage symptoms and reduce ACTH levels.

A multi-faceted, individualized approach is essential for treating horses with PPID or Cushing's Syndrome. Since symptoms, conditions, and history of horses vary, a one-size-fits-all treatment is ineffective. For that reason, customizing programs to the individual horse is crucial for managing the condition.

Horses with PPID often exhibit symptoms related to hormonal imbalances, like changes in shedding patterns, hair coat, excessive sweating, and fatigue. The symptoms can vary from horse to horse, making it essential to assess each case individually.

PPID affects the metabolism of horses, often leading to weight gain or loss, depending on the stage of the condition. The immune system also gets compromised, making horses more susceptible to infections and other health issues. Long-term elevated cortisol levels can cause muscle wasting and a weakened immune response.

Diet plays a significant role in managing PPID, as there is a link between sugar and inflammation in the condition. It is crucial to ensure that horses receive proper nutrition without any inflammatory ingredients. Monitoring and adjusting diet based on individual needs can help manage symptoms and improve overall health.

Managing PPID in horses requires a holistic approach that considers the complexity of the condition. By addressing underlying factors such as stress, inflammation, diet, and lifestyle, horse owners can help regulate hormonal imbalances and improve the quality of life of their horses.

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This week, we are exploring sweet itch, also known as summer eczema.

This condition usually affects horses with hypersensitivity to insect bites and often occurs from bites from flies, mosquitoes, and especially biting midges, commonly called no-see-ums.

The occurrence and severity of sweet itch largely depend on environmental factors and the individual immune system of each horse.

Black horses and those with weakened immunity are more susceptible to sweet itch. Bugs target weaker horses, causing severe allergic reactions. Those reactions manifest as itching, rubbing, and discomfort, often leading to hair loss, sores, and bleeding. The immune response to these bites results in inflammation and welts, similar to how mosquito bites affect humans.

Diet and environmental factors significantly influence the susceptibility of each horse to sweet itch, and the condition can become exacerbated by high sugar intake, inappropriate grains, and poor-quality fats. Horses with compromised immune systems due to ulcers, metabolic issues, or nutrient deficiencies are more prone to severe reactions.

The acid mantle is a protective layer of the skin. It is crucial in defending against insect bites and infections. However, it can get damaged by a poor diet and toxins.

A holistic approach to managing sweet itch involves strengthening the immune system and overall health. That includes addressing underlying conditions such as ulcers, metabolic issues, and nutrient deficiencies. Natural remedies, dietary adjustments, and supportive supplements play a vital role. An example is vitamin C, which supports the immune system and helps maintain skin health.

Natural fly sprays and topical applications, like Riva's Herbal Skin Oil, can relieve itching and prevent infections. Holistic treatments, such as the Summer Tincture containing calendula, echinacea, linden, and milk thistle, help neutralize allergic reactions and support overall immune health. When you combine the use of those remedies with a clean diet and toxin elimination, it can significantly improve the condition of your horse.

Sweet itch is a challenging condition that requires a comprehensive approach to manage effectively. By addressing diet, immune health, and environmental factors, horse owners can help their horses overcome this uncomfortable ailment. Natural remedies and supportive supplements can offer significant relief and lead to long-term health.

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This week, we are covering how long owners must continue supplementing their horses.

In my courses, on my Facebook groups, and even via emails, horse owners often want to know how long they should supplement their horses after addressing their imbalances with feed programs and which steps they should take next.

Stay tuned as I share my advice on this topic.

Initial Check-In

One of my key recommendations is to check in on how your horse has progressed four to six weeks after starting a new supplement program. It is not the end of the supplementation program, but to ensure you are on the right track. Without doing that, you could continue an ineffective program for months, wasting time and resources with no improvement.

A Six-Week Check-In

After six weeks, you should see a general improvement in the horse's health. If you see no improvement, it could mean you have missed an underlying issue or the problem is not nutritional.

Ongoing Supplementation

For horses on hay diets, continuous supplementation is crucial. Continuous supplementation is essential for supporting the health and longevity of those horses, as domestic environments cannot replicate the variety found in a natural lifestyle.

Bioavailability and Absorption

The health of many horses declines despite being on multivitamins because they require specific nutrients to address their health concerns effectively. So, it is not only about providing supplements but ensuring they are in bioavailable forms that the horse can absorb.

Six-Week Check-In Scenarios

When you check in at six weeks, you may encounter two scenarios:

1. No Change: If there is no improvement, you may need to investigate further, considering factors like health problems that already exist, medications, or stress.
2. Improvement: If your horse shows signs of improvement, you can continue with the program. Only consider adjustments once you have hit a plateau or after a significant improvement.

Adjusting Supplement Programs

After seeing a significant improvement, you can start phasing out certain supplements to see if the horse maintains its health without them. The gradual reduction helps you determine which supplements are essential in the long term.

Variety in Diet

Horses naturally need variety in their diets, so you must avoid becoming too routine with supplements. Changing feed programs and adding nutrient-dense foods can enhance their nutrition better than synthetic supplements alone.

Selenium Supplementation

Regular selenium supplementation can significantly benefit the health of your horse. Selenium is an essential mineral often deficient in horses. It is critical for thyroid health, immunity, and detoxification.

Personalized Supplement Programs

Tailoring the supplement program to the horse's specific needs and continuously evaluating its effectiveness is essential because sometimes, despite implementing a well-rounded supplement program, other health factors may also need to be addressed.

Importance of Professional Help

The type of healing and health transformation required for each horse is unique. Given the complexity of horses' health issues and their unique nutritional requirements, seeking professional guidance may be essential for formulating an effective supplementation strategy.

Conclusion

Determining how long to supplement your horse requires regular check-ins. Focus on bioavailable nutrients, adjust your program based on the horse's progress, and seek professional guidance for tailoring the supplementation to the specific needs of each horse.

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This week, we are exploring the benefits of journaling for improving equine health.

Journaling is invaluable for anyone facing health issues with their horses or those who want to ensure they are doing all the right things for their horses' wellbeing.

Whether dealing with a challenging health condition or rehabbing a horse, stay tuned to learn how journaling will give you a deeper understanding of your horse and help you keep track of its health.

When working with horses from a holistic perspective, I look for everything they are sensitive to, correlate their health with events, check their supplements, and examine their diet to put all those pieces together, whether they have health challenges or not.

Journaling helps you track how your horse progresses, especially when working on rehab or recovery, as working toward health is not always a straight line and can be confusing while you figure things out.

Keep a positive attitude, as your horse will draw energy from you. Journaling helpsyou stay positive as it reminds you of the progress made.

Journaling eliminates confusion. Writing down all facts and dates gives you a clear record of all that has happened and helps identify any patterns that may be crucial for managing horse health.

Record all the symptoms and changes. That allows you to retain valuable information that you may need to prevent future issues. It is also helpful for managing chronic problems without relying on memory alone.

Allowing the horse to guide the recovery process means recognizing improvements and setbacks as part of the healing journey. By documenting everything, you can better understand what the horse is expressing and make more informed decisions.

If you are new to journaling, start with all the essential information, like age, symptom profile, living conditions, hay changes, supplement changes, and lifestyle factors at the onset of any condition. Also, record the bloodwork and diagnoses to establish a baseline, always including dates, as health profiles can vary seasonally.

Record any significant health events, like trims, vaccinations, deworming, and dental work, as that helps you identify the correlations between those events and symptom changes.

For conditions like equine metabolic syndrome, keep track of weight and take pictures. Seeing your horse every day can make it hard to notice changes, but photos provide clear evidence of progress or lack thereof. That also applies to conditions affecting specific areas like eyes, feet, or coat.

Comparing the shedding patterns of a horse to the rest of the herd and recording dates helps you track any improvements over time. Photos can help you keep track of any year-to-year changes.

Journaling helps you identify triggers for issues like infections. Record food, supplement changes, and lifestyle factors, and note environmental factors like weather to gain more insight into issues like thrush infections.

Journaling helps you recognize what has not changed if symptoms persist. If a condition remains unchanged despite various adjustments, it might highlight a specific supplement or diet item you need to re-evaluate. Documenting any changes makes it far easier to identify and address those sticking points.

This week, I explore ways to help horses that find it hard to gain weight.

Many horses struggle to gain weight, which is a significant concern for their owners, particularly during winter. Despite being well-fed, those horses often remain thin, unable to build and maintain muscle mass. It is a common issue, particularly among thoroughbred breeds with high metabolisms. As those horses age, keeping weight on them becomes even more challenging.

So, today, I share various dietary strategies to help hard keepers gain weight and improve their overall health.

Before deciding to increase the food intake to address weight loss in your horse, you need to rule out other potential health issues that may impact their ability to maintain weight.

Healthy teeth are crucial for a horse to chew and digest its food. Misalignment, sharp edges, missing teeth, abscesses, or sore gums can make eating uncomfortable, leading to weight loss. Symptoms like dropping food (quidding) could indicate dental issues. I recommend regular checks by an equine dentist to maintain oral health and efficient digestion.

Ulcers, particularly in performance horses, can significantly impact appetite and weight. Up to 80% of horses may have ulcers or related lesions. Symptoms include decreased appetite and rapid weight loss. Stress and medication can exacerbate ulcers, leading to a pot-bellied appearance and hollow flanks. Treatment often involves medication and dietary adjustments to support digestive health.

Leaky gut, caused by the over-fermentation of starches and sugars in the hindgut, leads to intestinal gas, heat, toxins, and systemic toxicity, causing weight loss, diarrhea, and laminitis. It is essential to support the hindgut and digestive health to manage and prevent those symptoms.

Active parasite infections interfere with nutrient absorption and can cause significant weight loss. Chemical dewormers are essential, as natural remedies are often ineffective against active infestations. Parasites can cause anemia and deplete vitamins and minerals, further impacting the health and weight of a horse.

Stress affects the ability of a horse to maintain weight. High stress can lead to muscle wasting, particularly in horses with conditions like Cushing's disease (PPID), so it is essential to manage stress through proper nutrition, environmental enrichment, and sometimes hormonal regulation.

Conditions like COPD or heaves can prevent proper blood oxygenation, making it difficult for horses to build mass and tissue. Addressing respiratory health and ensuring efficient gas exchange in the lungs is crucial for those horses to maintain or gain weight.

Fiber is essential for horses as it ferments into energy in the form of volatile fatty acids, fueling their cells. Ideal fiber levels in hay are crucial for energy and digestive health. However, too much fiber can be counterproductive if it is not digestible, requiring horses to eat more to meet their nutritional needs.

Providing hay 24/7 is essential, especially for hard keepers. Slow feeders can help to manage intake, but for horses that need to gain weight, loose hay or feeders with larger holes may be necessary to ensure they get enough calories. Owners should tailor the quality and type of hay to meet the needs of each horse.

Using different types of hay can help manage the dietary needs of a herd, especially when perfect hay is hard to find. It is beneficial to introduce variety and ensure the hay is

Today, I have a special guest called Peggy joining me to share her story of overcoming the health challenges she faced with her horse Cami.

Peggy lives in Alabama. She has two horses, one of which is a 36-year-old Arabian Quarter Horse cross. The other is Cami, a 13-year-old Oldenburg Quarter Horse mare. I began working with Peggy in 2021 when Cami had several challenging health conditions.

Initial Contact and Reason for Appointment

After hearing me on a podcast, Peggy initially contacted me to help her 36-year-old horse, Sterling, who was struggling with FICO water syndrome. During our discussions, she realized that her other horse, Cami, who was dealing with chronic uveitis, could also benefit from my understanding.

Background on Cami

Peggy bought Cami in 2020 during the pandemic. She found her online and learned that Cami had only been away from her breeder for about eight months. Initially, she had a stress-free life on 40 acres with a herd, but her next home was stressful. She was kept in a stall 24/7 with little outdoor time and no herd contact, which was a drastic change for her.

Initial Health Concerns

When Peggy brought Cami home, she knew she had eye issues, and the vet confirmed a minor irritation. Peggy initially managed it with medication, even considering the possibility of removing the eye if necessary. However, as Cami settled in, various other health issues emerged, including weight gain, crusty neck, and anxiety.

Treatment and Medications

Peggy tried multiple medications to manage Cami’s eye issues, including oral anti-inflammatories and ointments. Taking her to an ophthalmologist was challenging due to her anxiety around trailering, so Peggy had to manage treatments at home with my help and with that of her vet. It required significant teamwork and research.

Initial Attitude and Goals

Peggy was determined to save Cami’s eye, feeling that surgery was not a viable option due to her reactive state and the stress it would cause her. She began using positive reinforcement and clicker training to help her administer the medication, which allowed us to manage the symptoms but not solve the underlying problem.

Holistic Approach and Realizations

Reducing stress and holistically addressing equine health is essential for managing chronic conditions like uveitis. Peggy explains that Cami’s health conditions worsened in a less stressful environment as her body began to express the underlying imbalances.

Health Deterioration and Progress

Peggy recalls how Cami developed a cataract and went blind in one eye after a severe reaction to annual vaccinations. That led to a visit from an ophthalmologist and required intense medication to save the eye. That period was the beginning of our understanding of how her hypersensitivity led to complex health issues.

Managing Multiple Health Issues

Cami’s immune system was hypersensitive. She reacted to various triggers like vaccinations, ant bites- and even organic fly sprays. Although the increased sensitivity was a sign of her body healing, it also added a layer of complexity to her care.

Initial Treatment Strategy

My first treatment program for Cami focused on improving her digestion, regulating her insulin and blood sugar, and reducing oxidative stress rather than directly addressing the eye issue. Peggy began to notice improvements in her overall health, including weight loss, a shinier coat, and healthier hooves.

Importance of Detailed Observation

Regular photos helped Peggy monitor changes and effectiveness of treatments and helped her make informed decisions regarding Cami’s care. Daily observation and documentation were also required to track her progress.

Milestones...

This week, we are looking at uveitis, sometimes known as moon blindness in horses.

Uveitis is a big concern for horse owners because it can lead to blindness and, in severe cases, even result in the horse losing an eye. Even in traditional medicine, the exact cause of this complex and chronic condition remains elusive.

So, today, I approach uveitis from a holistic perspective, exploring its various facets and potential treatments.

Understanding Uveitis

Uveitis, indicated by the suffix itis, denotes inflammation, specifically chronic inflammation of the uvea, which is one of the layers of the eye. The uvea comprises three structures- the iris, ciliary body, and choroid, which could get damaged in uveitis cases.

Possible Causes and Holistic Approach

The causes of uveitis are diverse and often unknown. A holistic approach considers dietary, lifestyle, and nutritional interventions to reduce inflammation and potentially save the affected eye. Many believe uveitis is triggered by infections or autoimmune responses, leading to continuous inflammation and tissue damage.

Genetic Predisposition

Appaloosa horses are eight times more likely to develop equine recurrent uveitis, indicating a genetic predisposition. Despite that, horse owners should focus on mitigating the condition with an appropriate diet and lifestyle changes to reduce inflammation and support tissue repair.

Stress and Toxicity

Stress and toxicity are significant triggers for uveitis flare-ups. Stressful events, like separation from the herd or lifestyle changes, can exacerbate the condition. Toxins from medications or vaccinations can also overload the immune system, leading to increased inflammation.

Free Radical Damage

Free radicals cause considerable damage to tissues, contributing to conditions like uveitis. Antioxidants play a role in neutralizing free radicals, as they protect the tissues from oxidative stress and potential DNA mutations.

Connection to Metabolic Disorders

Horses with metabolic disorders like insulin resistance or Cushing's disease are more susceptible to uveitis. Those conditions cause chronic inflammation and tissue breakdown, particularly affecting the eyes.

Importance of Liver Health

A healthy liver is crucial for eye health, as the liver is responsible for metabolism and detoxification. Supporting liver function through proper diet and supplementation can help reduce the toxic load on the body, protecting the eyes from further damage.

Dietary Considerations

Dietary management is essential, as a diet that minimizes metabolic stress and supports liver function helps to manage the progression of uveitis. It is crucial to eliminate excess sugars, fats, and proteins, as they can exacerbate inflammation and put additional pressure on the liver. Instead, focus on a balanced diet rich in fiber and essential nutrients.

Antioxidants and Supplements

The antioxidants most beneficial for uveitis include zinc, vitamin E, vitamin C, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and Coenzyme Q10. Those help reduce inflammation and support overall eye health. However, supplementation should be approached cautiously and tailored to the individual needs of each horse.

Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic remedies like Apis, derived from honeybees, can reduce inflammation and swelling in uveitis cases. However, addressing underlying factors such as stress and metabolic imbalances is also essential.

Conclusion

Managing uveitis requires a comprehensive approach that includes dietary adjustments and addressing underlying health issues. By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, owners can improve the outcomes for horses suffering from this chronic...