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Effective Programs Encouraged to Reduce Potential Problems
Recent surveys indicate that the state of the economy has forced some horse owners to consider cutting back on nutritional supplements they provide for their horses. Jack Grogan, Certified Nutritionist and VP of Research and Development at Uckele Health & Nutrition, encourages horse owners to examine potential negative short and long-term effects before cutting back or discontinuing a supplement. If cut-backs are considered, Grogan discussed which supplements should not be discontinued once begun, which conditions might be exacerbated, and which supplements should be withdrawn gradually, or suddenly.
"The amount of nutrients a horse requires varies from horse to horse and breed to breed, with stress and activity levels also a factor," says Grogan, "A horse's nutritional requirements are rarely met by a diet relying only on pasture, hay and grain." Supplementation can offer preventive maintenance to minimize problems associated with a horse's long-term nutritional foundation, as well as a treatment for short-term special needs.
A long-term foundation program often includes formulas to support the horse's well-known delicate digestive tract to help aid digestion, prevent distress, and help absorb nutrients. Also part of a long-term foundation program, unrefined oils can also support blood sugar levels by reducing stress associated with unstable blood sugar levels, provide anti-inflammatory benefits and supply essential fatty acids. These types of foundation formulas should be used daily, without interruption. Sudden cessation may have no immediate effect, as some nutrients can store in the body for a period of time. However, once withdrawn, risks for any number of problems elevate, and manifest in areas of the body that are genetically weakest in relationship to the imbalance. Once signs or symptoms develop, it is often more difficult to return the metabolism to normal, and may require higher doses of nutrients to overcome the problem than to prevent the issues in the first place.
Short-term nutritional special needs can be met with preventive options such as supplementation until a full recovery or rebalancing occurs. Cases such as injury, accidents, surgery, illness, infection, travel, performance and thermal stress can be treated with the short-term use of immune function support, digestive aids and antioxidants to help with healing rate, performance efficiency and stress recovery, as needed. The short-term, high-potency use of specific supplementation to aid in overcoming these issues is acceptable, assuming there are no lasting negative effects, and can be safely discontinued. If problems do show themselves occasionally, those same specific nutrients can be repeated until the problems are resolved.
However, horses that have developed long-term, chronic special-needs will require supplementation on a regular basis, much like a foundation formula. If not addressed, serious health issues can manifest and be difficult to manage. Chronic, special need issues include, but are not limited to, colic history, digestive issues, founder, laminitis, hoof and joint problems, insulin resistance, Cushing's syndrome and chronic inflammation.
Jack Grogan, Certified Nutritionist and VP of Research and Development for Uckele Health & Nutrition, has studied extensively in the fields of biology, biochemistry and nutrition, is an expert in tissue mineral balancing, and has experienced great success in balancing equine mineral chemistry to strengthen the basic metabolism and improve efficiency in horses. Uckele Health & Nutrition is a Michigan-based, family owned business that has built a reputation over four decades using proven, progressive advances in science to formulate, manufacture and sell quality nutritional products in nearly 40 countries, also providing private labeling and custom manufacturing for many other companies and organizations worldwide.
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