Exposing the Disguised Signals of Early Onset Liver Compromise in Horses

In Part 1 of this 3 part series (click here to read it now), we discussed what signs are commonly thought of and recognized when it comes to a liver imbalance in horses. For many horse owners concerns like your horse being lethargic, loss of appetite, neurologic abnormalities, jaundice, or other extreme symptoms or conditions is what comes to mind most commonly.

And although these signs aren’t wrong… these are signs of failure and disease, not signs of imbalance. Oftentimes as horse owners, we are not taught to heed the subtle signs of imbalance. Which is a phase of concern that the body alerts to BEFORE a state of illness sets in. Most professionals and experts also brush off these tell-tale signs that your horse’s health needs attention.

This blog series is meant to expose 6 of the most overlooked signs that your horse may be suffering from liver imbalance. We unpacked 2 of the signs in Part 1 and now we’ll reveal 2 additional signs…

Toxicity and Your Horse’s Liver Health

Out of the 6 signs that we share of spotting liver imbalance in your horse, toxicity is likely the least surprising. When horses consume poisonous plants or are exposed to dangerous chemicals the toxins can overwhelm the liver’s capacity to detox and filter them from the body. Therefore leading to liver disease or failure.

Since toxicity isn’t necessarily an overlooked sign… why would I include it in this list?

I included this sign because there is a form of toxicity that I believe is overlooked and widespread in the horse industry. One that is reflective of liver imbalance… Nutrient/mineral toxicity. Things such as hair analysis and other forms of nutrient diagnostics are popular as horse owners seek perfection in their horse’s care and diet. These reports often lead to overreaction and misunderstanding from experts, practitioners, and horse owners alike.

Jumping to conclusions that the ONLY cause of either deficiency or toxicity can be that the horse’s diet is deficient or toxic in tested vitamins and minerals. This results in hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars being spent on different testing, supplements, nutrition, etc. with NO REGARD to the health and function of the horse’s liver.

The quality of your horse’s health is directly connected to the quality of questions you ask about it! And if you’ve failed to ask the right questions at times, you’re not alone and it isn’t your fault.

Another thought to the overlooked sign of toxicity can also be things like brittle dry mane and tail, itchy skin, watery or goopy eyes. These expressions often get labeled as “allergies” and lifelong treatments that offer little to no result follow.

Spotting these expressions of the body and supporting them, getting to the root of the problem tends to lead to amazing and often shocking results. That is our mission with everything we do here at Equine Essential Wellness. Sharing tools, resources, and information that improve the quality of life and vitality for horses.

Broadcast Risks from the Nervous System of the Horse

Have you ever wondered why out of a whole herd or barn full of horses only one or two might show signs of exposure to something like EPM? Or has your horse had times that their coordination and balance just didn’t seem to be as sharp?

It seems social media groups are a place that many people post video after video of horses with lingering lameness, stiffness, or coordination issues that stump both medical and alternative professionals alike. A sea of opinions streams in… None offering tangible or solid advice.

All the while people are focused merely on the musculoskeletal structure and surface-level concerns, never questioning if a compromise within the bloodstream could be an underlying factor… Having the awareness that the horse’s liver is responsible for the filtration and storage of blood for the body. Therefore contaminated or malnourished blood flowing through the body will directly impact the structure and soundness of a horse and should be top of mind when the impediment of movement is present. Whether structural in nature or stemming from the nervous system.

How many failed attempts at masking, treating, and suppressing symptoms of the body will it take before the horse world begins to ask new questions and seek untraditional solutions?

I’m curious, what kind of questions are you currently asking around your horse’s health?

Did these overlooked signs of liver imbalance cause you to do a doubletake or offer a heightened awareness of the importance of the vitality of your horse’s liver?

If so you’ll want to grab your copy of our free PDF guide – 6 Most Overlooked Signs Your Horse May Be Suffering From Liver Imbalance. Click here or scroll to the bottom of the page and request your free guide now!

One of my mustang’s experienced sign #6 and was at increased risk for #5… which tends to be the biggest shocker for most horse owners I work with. Get a copy of this guide sent straight to your inbox now and see if your horse is expressing any of the signs.

Share this page with your friends on social media and help raise the awareness of these overlooked signs and to help your friends maximize liver health for horses.

Until our next post… get out there and enjoy your horse!