How do you support your horse's liver? The advice and information platform for all horse and dog enthusiasts.

The liver is the first line of defense against contaminants and toxic substances that may be present in food. Substances absorbed from the intestines are first sent through the liver, so that harmful substances do not go unnoticed throughout the body. The liver filters those toxic substances from the blood. That is also the reason why poisoning by, for example, ragwort mainly leads to liver damage. Your horse's liver takes the blows.

Liver important for vitamin C

The liver is the largest gland in the horse's body. In addition to filtering out unwanted substances, your horse's liver is also an important storage place for minerals and vitamins. Vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, and vitamin B12 are stored in the liver. The liver produces vitamin C itself, and vitamin D3 is also converted in the liver, with the help of vitamin C. In case of liver problems, the conversion and storage of vitamin D3 and the release of vitamin C decrease. A deficiency arises.

Bile function of the liver

The liver of a horse has more than 100 different functions. The liver also plays a role in digestion. Horses do not have a gallbladder, like humans. In horses, there is a continuous small supply of bile, directly from the liver to the duodenum. This is due to the fact that horses naturally do not eat meals and do not fast in between. They are constantly foraging and grazing, so the bile does not need to be stored but is continuously released. This only works if the liver functions properly. Bile contains bile salts, which distribute the fats naturally found in feed in small droplets. This allows the digestive enzymes to do their job better.

Causes of liver problems

The liver can be overloaded or damaged by the following causes:

Worms in the gastrointestinal tract
Contaminants in food or drinking water (e.g. ragwort or pesticides)
Mycotoxins (dung from fungi in roughage or grass)
Viral infections
Bacterial infections
Vaccinations
Gallstones
Low resistance
Heavy work and significant muscle acidification
PSSM and other conditions

How do I recognize liver problems in my horse?

Unfortunately, you may not notice right away if your horse's liver function is not optimal. Symptoms of liver overload or liver damage often fall into the category of 'vague complaints'. When the liver is really in trouble, your horse may have yellow mucous membranes inside the mouth. This is a clear sign, but often things are already quite severe by then. Blood tests can also provide an indication of the health of the liver: in this case, a number of liver values are usually checked.

Other symptoms that may indicate an overloaded liver include:

Sudden onset of pastern dermatitis or itching on the body
Low energy
Lack of appetite (which can be due to a vitamin C deficiency)

Supporting your horse's liver

As horse owners, we do not always think about the liver when our horse has vague complaints. Therefore, it is good to know how important this organ is. We often hear from people that blood tests in their horse show elevated liver values. They then wonder what they can do to support their horse and want to know if a detox is a good idea. Do not do this without careful consideration first to see how your horse is doing overall. If the liver is already overloaded, a detox may not always be the best solution right away. A detox actually stimulates the liver to process and eliminate waste products, which can sometimes be an additional burden. It is wise to proceed cautiously. You can start by giving your horse nettle extract. This helps to gently expel waste products. Nettle purifies the blood, but does not put extra strain on the liver or kidneys. Because less vitamin C is produced in case of liver problems, it is advisable to supplement this temporarily. Vitamin C is crucial for the daily health of horses, as it is for humans. It is better not to give a horse vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid, as it is not as well absorbed and can cause some acidification. It is better to use vitamin C that is bound to magnesium or calcium.

What should I give my horse for liver problems?

If your horse has an overloaded liver, a detox can be too strong. It is therefore better for horses with liver problems to start by giving them vitamin C and nettle. Once the horse has improved, you can then consider giving a detox more carefully. Milk thistle is one of the herbs commonly used in a detox, but this can be too strong during the acute phase of liver problems. It is also not advisable to give large amounts of oil or fats through feed when the liver is overloaded, as the bile function of the liver may also be reduced. Herbs in a detox often stimulate bile function, so they can certainly contribute to recovery after the acute phase.

Conclusion: how do I care for my horse's liver?

The liver of a horse is a very important organ, responsible for removing waste products, digestion, and the conversion and storage of, among other things, vitamin C and vitamin D3. For a horse prone to liver overload, you can give him a nettle cure for a week every month, for example. This prevents too many waste products from accumulating in the horse's body. Once your horse is back in balance, you can also choose to offer a separate drinking trough with nettle extract. The horses can then drink from it as they see fit. But as long as a horse has an overloaded liver, you want to make sure they get nettle and vitamin C and provide this directly through their feed.