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Susan Marsh" <smarsh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Is Garlic Really Toxic To Horses

By Wendy O'Neill


     So much has been written about the benefits of garlic in the last few
years. Yet a recent article in a leading horse magazine described garlic as
highly toxic for these animals. So what is fact and what is fiction, and
how could there be any confusion on the issue?
     To explain, we first need to talk about the toxicity of onions (Allium
sp.), which has been reported in scientific literature.  Onion toxicity is
caused by a poisonous alkaloid (n-propyl disulphide), which inhibits an
enzyme in red blood cells and causes the cell to denature.  The horse's
body recognizes these denatured red blood cells as foreign and removes
them.  This causes clinical signs of anemia.  It can be recognized by your
veterinarian as the presence of "heinz bodies" in your horse's blood.
     Garlic is a member of the same genus as onions and, as such, contains
many similar properties and sulfur compounds.  However, garlic does not
contain n-propyl disulphide, though a similar compound allyl propyl
disulfide is found.  There is documentation in the literature of anemia
being caused in humans after high doses of garlic, but these doses were
well in excess of 12g per day. (which for a horse would be about 85g per
day!).

Does this mean that you should
stop feeding your horse Garlic?

     Well, one of the difficulties with making recommendations on this is
that there have not been any controlled studies on garlic in horses.  In
fact, no one has even come up with a recommended dose based on equine
research.
     But, that being said, horse owners have fed garlic to their horses for
many, many years without any significant side effects being reported.  In
fact, dogs are said to also suffer from intolerance to onions, and garlic
is regularly added to dog food without any adverse effects.
      And I can say with confidence that I have conducted research on
herbal composites that contain garlic, and have not identified any
significant adverse effects of the treatment in comprehensive blood screens
(which include red cell counts).
     In the absence of any controlled scientific studies, the best advice
is to make your self aware of the possible pitfalls.  If you are concerned
with the possibility of garlic-induced anemia, ask your veterinarian to do
a quick blood test for heinz bodies.  It is fast, inexpensive, and will put
your mind at ease.
     In the meantime, the Nutraceutical Alliance, in partnership with the
Equine Research Centre in Guelph, Ontaria, is
Conducting the first garlic-for-horses initiative in North America.  This
research will establish a recommended dose of garlic for horses and will
very carefully monitor side effects of garlic when fed at recommended doses
over a
period of time.

Wendy O'Neill is Executive Director of
The Nutraceutical Alliance.
For more information on garlic go to:
www.NutraceuticalAlliance.com

References

1. Pierce, K.R., Joyce J.R. England, RB et all.,
Acute hemolytic anemia caused by wild onion poisoning
in horses.  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association, 160:323-327 (1972)
2. Thorp, R. and Harshfield, GS:
Onion Poisoning in Horses
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association, 94:52-53 (1939)
3. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy,
Phytochemistry and Medicinal Plants, 2nd Edition.
Lavoisier Publishing Intercept, 1999. P.208
4. Symposium on the Chemistry,
Pharmacology and Medicinal Applications of Garlic.
Cardiology in Practice 7:1-15 (1989)


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