8 Of The Best Spirulina Benefits For Horses2024
spirulina benefits for horses to improve horse's health
Spirulina benefits for horses are many and if you have a horse, you will be keen to provide it with the necessary nutrients so that it grows in good health.
-Spirulina supplement is approved by the World Health Organization as it has a very high safety profile.
-Spirulina is a perfect source of protein so spirulina benefits for horses are numerous because it will be effective in maintaining the lung and skin health of horses.
Now let’s talk more about spirulina, discover what spirulina benefits for horses are, and what the proper dosage is.
Spirulina benefits for horses to improve their health
What is spirulina?
–Spirulina is a green powder that is derived from freshwater, blue-green algae.
-More specifically, spirulina is a cyanobacteria with a blue-green hue.
-Spirulina under the microscope has a spiral shape, and it is formed of multiple cells with no true nucleus.
-It is said that spirulina has been around for 3.6 billion years.
-This superfood is a unique supplement to support the immune system and respiratory needs of horses.
-Spirulina is dried algae that is harvested from lakes in China, Mexico, and Africa.
-Spirulina is fed to horses in a powder form and this powder consists of Arthrospira maxima and the cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis.
-Spirulina contains several nutrients such as:
1- The main nutrient is protein which represents 50-70% and contains all the essential amino acids.
-Those essential amino acids can’t be synthesized by the horse itself and the horse needs to obtain them from the diet.
-Spirulina has a powerful amino acid profile that can be helpful in proper muscle and organ functions.
2-Vitamins:
Spirulina is a good source of beta carotene, vitamins A, C, D E, K, thiamine(B1), niacin(B3), pyridoxine (B6), cobalamin(B12), folate, inositol, biotin, and pantothenic acid.
-Those vitamins have antioxidant properties that protect body cells.
3-Minerals:
Magnesium, iron, sodium, selenium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, calcium, boron, potassium, chloride, molybdenum, chromium, and geranium.
4-Amino acids:
Arginine, methionine, cysteine, glutamic acid, histidine, phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, glycine, leucine, serine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, and isoleucine.
Spirulina benefits for horses and how it improves horse’s health
1- Provide help for seasonal allergies as it helps in decreasing itchiness due to allergens such as pollen and dust allergies.
-Releasing histamine from mast cells can cause an itching sensation that happens during allergic reactions so one of the spirulina benefits for horses is the inhibition of histamine release.
2-Support immune response to insect bites.
3-One of spirulina benefits for horses is minimizing allergic overreactions.
-As spirulina contains phycocyanin which is a selenium-rich protein and is responsible for spirulina’s blue pigment.
-Phycocyanin increases the production of IgA and IgG (protective antibodies) and decreases the production of immunoglobulin E and IgE (pro-inflammatory antibodies).
4-Spirulina helps with Equine Metabolic Syndrome(EMS) which causes weight loss in horses.
-Spirulina improves metabolism health in horses with insulin resistance as improving insulin sensitivity can prevent horses from developing inflammation of the hoof(Laminitis).
5-One of spirulina benefits for horses is protection against sweet itch or hives.
-Spirulina can be effective with skin conditions such as sweet itch or hives which happen due to hypersensitivity to insect bites.
6-Spirulina has a great effect in increasing blood flow(Vasodilation).
-Horses given spirulina have pinker gums and tongues and that is proof of great oxygen supply to tissues and surely, that will lead to improvement of exercise performance and recovery.
7-One of the main spirulina benefits for horses is supporting respiratory needs.
–Horses suffer from many respiratory issues such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), heaves, or inflammatory airway disease.
-These respiratory issues are prevalent mostly during the summer when respiratory allergens are abundant in the air.
-Horse given spirulina with jiaogulan has shown fewer symptoms such as sneezing or coughing.
8-Spirulina has antioxidant properties as it is rich in antioxidants such as selenium, beta carotene, and vitamin E.
-During the metabolism process, there is the release of free radicals that cause damage to DNA and fats in the cells.
-Antioxidants in spirulina can neutralize free radicals before causing damage to cells and therefore, tissues and cells will remain healthy and perform their normal functions.
The proper dosage of spirulina
-As we mentioned, there are many spirulina benefits for horses so you need to know the proper dosage to get the best results for your horse’s life.
-The recommended dosage of spirulina for horses is 20 grams / 500 kg twice per day.
-It is considered a safe dosage for horses with respiratory problems or EMS.
-It is better to consult your veterinarian to make sure that the dosage is appropriate for the horse’s needs.
Are there any side effects of spirulina?
-Spirulina has no toxic side effects when taken at a normal dose and even if it is taken in doses higher than recommended.
-You may notice some changes in your horse after starting spirulina.
Is there any risk of contamination of spirulina?
-Spirulina benefits for horses are numerous as it contains several nutrients that are important for the immune system and respiratory functions of the horse.
-Spirulina is safe and it is highly recommended by the FDA(Food And Drug Administration).
Spirulina grows in lakes with very high PH and that is not a perfect environment for many organisms to live so there is a low risk of contamination with any other organisms.
Will your horse like eating spirulina?
-50% of horses refuse spirulina in a bucket feed as it has a bad smell.
-You can mix some coconut oil with spirulina to decrease the bad odor.
Summary
Spirulina is a perfect source of protein for horses and it has a great role in the development of horse growth as spirulina is highly digestible.
Spirulina contains several nutrients such as all amino acids but it contains low lysine and methionine so it is preferred to add some extra supplementation of lysine and methionine in your horse’s diet.
As we mentioned, spirulina benefits for horses are many, which is why you should be sure to add it to your horse’s food so that his immune system is strengthened and he enjoys good health.
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