Being a nurse, this is something close to my heart as I have witnessed the effect of what can happen if doctors are not aware of a patient taking any regular herbal preparations. There is nothing more scary then witnessing a patient bleeding more than expected on the operating table and ended up with a blood transfusion. Later on we found out that the patient was taking a herbal anti-arthritis preparation containing willowbark. Willowbark is an anti-inflammatory with very similar action to a NSAID, ie like aspirin. He hadn’t told the doctor about it because the doctor asked if he is on any regular prescription drugs and he buys his arthritis capsules in a health food store.

Herbal preparations can and do interfere with prescription drugs and doctors are catching on and are asking more and more now about any ‘alternative’ medicines their patients are taking, like vitamins, minerals and herbs.

When it comes to the vet tough the question of regular medications our horses may be on doesn’t seem to be asked. I make a point out of telling him that my horses get managed with herbs and that they are currently receiving this or that herb regularly, at what dose and why I give it. This is especially important to me as most herbs I feed can interact with ‘normal’ drugs, like Garlic.

I use garlic a lot during spring and summer. I have found it really helps keeping the flies and mozzies off my horses. They still get bitten and I still find the occasional bot eggs on their legs, but compared to what they look like if I don’t give garlic in feed… it works marvellously. Stubby in particular benefits from garlic in his feed to keep the midges off as he does get Queensland itch and breaks out in big welts when stung by mozzies. Feeding Garlic (or even just plain sulphur powder) does make a huge difference, but… he will also tends to get nose bleeds when he is on garlic, due to garlic’s anti-clotting action.

Garlic has antibiotic actions based on its sulfur content, garlic also has a blood thinning action, and both these actions make it important to let the vet know your horse is having garlic.

Why?

Garlic’s antibiotic action interferes with the actions of antibiotics, especially sulphur based antibiotics. So if your vet prescribes antibiotics for your horse he needs to know that your horse is already receiving extra sulphur via garlic. This may prompt the vet to change the antibiotic if he prescribes it, and  you need to stop feeding  garlic (or sulphur powder). This will also avoid an unnecessary load on your horse’s kidneys as sulphur and antibiotics are eliminated via the kidneys.

When it comes to the blood thinning action of garlic, this is important as if your horse requires surgery it is best to stop garlic a week beforehand, but what if there is an emergency? Let your vet know that your horse receives garlic and how much per day.  Stopping garlic at least 10 days before elective surgery for your horse will avoid any complications due to excessive bleeding because the blood doesn’t clot. In case of your horse undergoing emergency surgery, your vet will be better prepared if blood doesn’t coagulate as quickly as expected.

It is so easy to just give herbs in our horse’s feed because we heard  it is good for them, or helps with this or that condition, but herbs are medicines and should be treated like that. They too have specific uses, have precautions and contraindications and specific instructions on how to administer/feed them. As horse owners we also need to know any regulations in regards to using herbs in competition horses, ie is the herb swabbed for, and you will be surprised what herbs are swabbed for now.

When it comes to feeding herbs, we as horse owners have a responsibility towards our animals to educate ourselves about the herbs we feed and share this information with our vet. Your vet, I am sure, will appreciate you letting him know about alternative medicines, vitamins and supplements you are feeding your horse. It is information that is vital, and may just affect how your vet manages the illness or injury your horse presented with.

It’s your responsibility.