Mycotoxin binders for horses are typically used when there is concern about mycotoxins in feeds or forages. Poor storage of feeds or where conditions are warm with excess moisture allow for fungus to grow and produce fungal toxins. Fungal toxins are called mycotoxins.
Mycotoxin binders work by binding to the fungal toxins in the digestive tract, preventing their absorption and eliminating these from the body. There are numerous binders available. It is important to use a broad-spectrum binder profile to adsorb the largest number of mycotoxins present in feeds or forages.
Toxin binder for horses | Digest Easi Opti-Mize | Grass affected Horses are two products that use the innovative technology of Myco-fix. This is a proven mycotoxin binder that works by deactivating mycotoxins where they are no longer toxic. By rendering the mycotoxins nontoxic, the horse does not absorb the harmful effects. This effective mycotoxin binder is used alongside calcium bentonite a naturally occurring binder to provide the best and broad coverage of the two groups of mycotoxins, polar and non-polar found commonly in feeds.
When to use mycotoxin binder for your horse:
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Contaminated Feed: if you suspect that your horses’ feed, forage or pasture grasses are contaminated with mycotoxins, a mycotoxin binders can be used to reduce the potential harmful effects of these toxins.
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Showing signs of mycotoxins: signs can include poor coat condition, weight loss, digestive issues (like diarrhoea or colic), lethargy, or neurological symptoms (high degree of nervous behaviour). Often spooky and out of character behaviour usually coincides with a change in weather. A mycotoxin binder may be used to help mitigate the impact. Feeding hay alongside is also helpful to reduce the consumption of grass or complete removal from grass may be required.
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Rye grass staggers: a large ingestion of endophyte toxins effect the nervous system where the horse may stagger about, become uncoordinated, slow or show careful foot placement. This triggers when the horse grazes stressed pasture where the symbiotic relationship of the endophyte toxin helps to protect the grasses survival by poisoning the grazing animal. When this happens, immediate removal from pasture is required until the horse recovers. Hay is given as forage in the interim. When the horse has recovered usually over 7 days, turn out should be a different paddock with longer pasture to mitigate the stressed pasture. Toxin binder for horses | Digest Easi are recommended to use in conjunction inorder to eliminate the toxins from the horses’ system.
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Changeable weather: humid or damp conditions are prime for mold toxins. During wet and warm weather your horse may benefit from mycotoxin binders as a preventative measure, particularly if feed storage conditions are not optimal and weather conditions are changeable, warm and wet.
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Feeding hay: when transitioning horses onto new feed or hay, mycotoxin binders might be used temporarily to help reduce the risk of toxin exposure from any potential unknown contaminants in the new feed. Some hay, and in particular where last season’s hay is fed it may be harbouring molds.
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Stressed pasture: when the environmental conditions threaten grass survival such as drought, frosts or other factors, a mycotoxin binder can be helpful to reduce exposure to ingested mold toxins.
In conclusion, it is important to note that mycotoxin binders are a supportive treatment, not a cure. Mycotoxin binders should be used to lessen the harmful effects of mycotoxins. Where necessary limit your horse’s exposure to contaminated feed or grass and feed other forms of forage such as hay or haylage to provide other feed for consumption.
Toxin binder for horses | Digest Easi and Opti-Mize | Grass affected Horses are both products that are effective for mycotoxin control and lessening the effects of mycotoxins in the horse. If exposore to mycotoxins is high, the dose may need to adjusted to every 12 hours for more coverage. Both products use Myco-fix, a proven and registered mycotoxin here in New Zealand.
Keep your horse thriving, happy and healthy by implementing a mycotoxin binder into your feed regime when necessary. This helps to ensure optimal health and behaviour.