How can I feed my horse with liver disease?
If your horse has liver problems, it needs gentle and well-considered feeding. We at marstall show you the basics and what you need to look out for in order to support your horse.
If your horse suffers from a liver condition, it is not just what you feed that matters, but also how you feed it! But don’t worry, we have the right tips at hand so that you and your horse can quickly get used to the new circumstances and the liver is relieved swiftly.
Jump straight to the topic:
High protein quality
A ration gentle on the horse’s liver
Herbs support the liver
marstall Leber-Kräuter
High protein quality
Protein quality plays a key part in a liver-friendly diet. Quality is determined mainly by the content of rare (limiting) essential amino acids (particularly lysine, methionine and threonine). If the ration lacks these amino acids, the remaining feed protein cannot be utilised to its full extent either. This results in an increased need for conversion in the liver and detoxification as urea via the kidneys.
Targeted supplementation with the limiting amino acids relieves the liver: the body can then make fuller use of the entire feed protein, reducing the amount of unusable amino acids and urea production.
You can find out more about “recognising liver damage” in the specialist article “How can I recognise liver problems in my horse?”. Learn how to recognise liver damage, along with tips for prevention and early detection.
Go to the specialist article "How can I recognise liver problems?“
Liver-friendly ration for horses
If your horse has impaired liver function, the daily ration should be divided into many small portions. This prevents nutrients and metabolic products, as well as harmful substances, from "flooding" the liver in surges. We recommend: easily digestible carbohydrates, low fat and a high-quality protein amount reduced to the necessary level. Make sure your horse maintains a stable weight. Conditions in which it loses weight place a significant burden on the liver. We have summarised the most important rules for a liver-friendly ration for you:
- Hay and straw, or all feedstuffs, in the best quality (no mould, no poisonous plants)
- No silage/haylage
- Energy supply according to requirements (do not feed too much or too little energy). Above all through very good quality hay. If your horse needs to lose weight, this should primarily be achieved through gentle endurance exercise. No abrupt reduction diet!
Pay attention to high protein quality: prefer protein with high levels of essential amino acids. In addition, feed protein digestible in the small intestine, ideally supplementary feed with pure, crystalline amino acids (L-lysine, DL-methionine, L-threonine), otherwise brewer's yeast or soy extraction meal.
- In cases of serious liver damage: reduce protein intake to approx. 70–80% of normal requirements. Otherwise, feed protein according to requirements or up to 50% above requirements (supports the liver's high regenerative capacity)
- Avoid too many carbohydrates (grain). Grain-free feeding is preferable. If additional energy is needed - and grain feeding is possible - then use processed maize flakes as a liver-friendly energy source. Generally feed hydrothermally processed grain
- Avoid increased fat feeding where possible, or distribute it over several meals throughout the day. If using oil, Lein-Distel-Öl is best (omega-3 fatty acids and liver-protective silymarin from milk thistle)
- Increased feeding of vitamins A, E, C and B vitamins
- Frequent small meals are gentler on the metabolism than two large main meals
Herbs support the liver
The following herbs have proven effective for liver problems:
Milk thistle
Milk thistle is the most important and probably best-known medicinal plant used for liver problems. Besides its main active ingredient silymarin, other constituents such as unsaturated fatty acids also have a protective, cell-regenerating and anti-inflammatory effect.
Stinging nettle
Nettle has a diuretic and antibacterial effect, among others. It supports the elimination of toxins and relieves the liver.
Dandelion root
Often regarded as a weed in the garden, dandelion actually has a cleansing effect. It helps detoxify the liver, as its bitter compounds stimulate the production of bile. At the same time, it helps restore hydration and electrolyte balance.
Artichoke leaves
They contain the bitter compound cynarin, which stimulates the metabolism. Most other bitter and tannin-rich herbs also have a positive effect on liver metabolism
Please note: This information is in no way a substitute for veterinary advice or treatment! References available on request.
You can find out more about the topic of “feed ration” in the specialist article “Feed ration for liver problems”, the right components for a liver-friendly diet.
Go to the specialist article “Feed ration for liver problems”
