Heavy metal toxicity is an excessive build-up of metals in the body. Oftentimes, the vague symptoms produced by heavy metal toxicity are mistakenly misdiagnosed as incurable chronic conditions. The most common heavy metals that horses are exposed to are aluminum, arsenic, and lead. The most common heavy metals that dogs are exposed to are silver, aluminum, nickel, and lead. Most of the heavy metals cause myelin sheath degeneration of the central nervous system.
Heavy metals are found in everyday existence and are frequently hard to avoid entirely. Most animals can excrete toxic heavy metals from the body successfully. However, some animals—especially those who suffer from chronic conditions—cannot excrete them efficiently enough and a build-up occurs. More commonly a daily exposure to a heavy metal eventually causes a build-up in the body.
Horses:
- Arsenic
Usually found in green treated lumber as a wood preservative in barns. Target organs are the blood, kidneys, central nervous, digestive, and skin systems. Usually manifests as stomach or small intestine ulcers.
- Lead
Usually found in the water source. Target organs are the bones, brain, blood, kidneys, and thyroid gland.
Not commonly detected until later in life when the horse presents with clinical signs of weight loss and diarrhea.
- Aluminum
There are many theories on the source of aluminum in horses. In any event, certain horses, like humans, tend to be more sensitive to aluminum than others. Target organs for aluminum are the central nervous system, kidney, and digestive system. Clinical signs in horses usually present as hives or stomach and small intestine ulcers.
Dogs and Cats:
- Plastic
Found in plastic food and water bowls and broke down by saliva which is very alkaline. Usually causes liver and kidney congestion. Clinical presentations include a dry, flaky hair coat, hot spots, itchy skin, and urinary tract infections.
- Silver, Nickel, Aluminum
Found in metal food and water bowls and broke down by saliva which is very alkaline. Clinical signs are usually the same as a plastic toxicity.
|
