Seasonal Transitions and the Liver
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Every year, Spring follows Winter and Fall follows Summer. Every year, our equine partners get routine deworming and vaccinations in order to maintain their ability to travel and compete. Every year, mares and stallions go through large seasonal hormonal fluctuations. These times of transition are important to remember. Mares think about going into season, vaccinations are given, the diet changes (at least up here in the North) from dry matter to spring grasses, and the little no-see-ums begin to arrive. Transitions, or changes, are inevitable in our world. And with them comes added stress. Through all of these transitions, the liver does it’s job to help the horse through the changes.
The Liver's Main Jobs:
The liver is essential for metabolism, digestion, detoxification, protein production, energy generation, and cellular repair.
Digestion: The liver produces bile acids that help digest fats and adjust the pH of food. Unlike most mammals, horses don't have a gallbladder to store bile—it goes directly into the intestine during feeding. This is why horses need time to adjust to high-fat diets; sudden increases can cause digestive upset.
Energy & Nutrients: The liver stores glycogen (the horse's main energy source during exercise) and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E). It also creates glucose from non-carbohydrate sources and produces hormones that regulate blood pressure, digestion, immunity, and red blood cells.
Detoxification: The liver detoxifies harmful substances, including medications. It processes drugs through "biotransformation," which can make them more or less active. Long-term drug use—especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—can stress the liver and lead to liver disease.
Hormone Regulation: The liver metabolizes and regulates hormones, including estrogen and other sex hormones. A healthy liver maintains hormonal balance by removing excess hormones from the body. Without proper liver function, hormone imbalances can occur and lead to health and behavior problems.
A beneficial equine management protocol would be to assist and support the liver during seasonal transitions to improve overall general health. Equine liver support protocols typically involve a combination of dietary management, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies. Key components include providing antioxidants like vitamins C and E, B vitamins (read ROSEHIPS), and herbs such as milk thistle, nettle and dandelion (Diamond Liver Detox or Stage 1), which help support liver function and detoxification.
Not previously discussed is the role of heavy metals on the liver. Heavy metals can burden the liver and other organs, disrupt nutrient absorption, interfere with normal cell function, and become toxic over time. Horses are commonly exposed to heavy metals through pesticides, fertilizers, chemical dewormers, vaccines, fly spray, contaminated soil where hay is grown, feed binders, and water sources. Heavy metals can even be passed from mare to foal during pregnancy. Test your ground or city water to check for heavy metal contamination—it's an often-overlooked issue that can affect your horse's health. Chinese herbal supplements for horses can help detoxify the liver and remove heavy metals. Ingredients like cilantro, nettle and astragalus (REMOVE by ActivateQi) are commonly used to support liver function and cleanse toxins from the body.
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As always, these recommendations do not replace the advice of your veterinarian.