Toxic heavy metals can bind essential minerals or inhibit absorption of minerals supplied in the diet. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for metabolism. A horse requires vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and water for optimal health. A horse can no longer survive on water and hay alone due to our depleted soils. Hay can supply the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, but not all the necessary vitamins and minerals to maintain health.

Clinical signs of a vitamin/mineral deficiency usually present as increased susceptibility to illness, poor hoof growth, poor hair coat, itching, and founder.

Like humans, some horses are more sensitive to carbohydrates than others which leads to obesity, insulin resistance and Cushings syndrome. Commonly, horses with these clinical signs are put on a restricted diet of hay or beet pulp and a small amount of oats. Unfortunately, the diet then lacks the vitamins and minerals required for metabolism. This tends to exacerbate the problem and other chronic disease develops.

Dogs and Cats
The most common findings of nutritional imbalances are due to heavy metal toxicity, excessive carbohydrate intake, and inadequate mineral supplementation. Toxic heavy metals can bind essential minerals or inhibit absorption of minerals supplied in the diet. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for metabolism. Extruded dog/cat foods usually include a synthetic or incomplete supplementation of vitamins and minerals which leads to a nutritional deficiency.

Many of the “itchy skin” cases are due to a heavy metal or plastic toxicity combined with a wheat or corn intolerance. In some cases, an animal may be intolerant or allergic to the meat in the diet. More commonly, the grains in the diet are causing congestion of the liver and gallbladder system.

Recommendations are to detoxify and change the diet. Kidney and liver congestion cannot be cleared without a detoxification program for heavy metals/ plastics. The animal may need organ and neurological support also.