Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar, Diatomaceous Earth as to Repel Insects on Horses

Question of the Month - ((Excerpt from AAEP's Ask the Vet with Dr. Lydia Gray, March 2009)

((Excerpt from AAEP's Ask the Vet with Dr. Lydia Gray, March 2009))

There's no scientific research to support the use of garlic and other products (apple cider vinegar, diatomaceous earth) to repel insects, yet many people swear by these natural products and continue to use them year after year. The fact that there's no supporting research doesn't mean the products don't work, it just means that because they're natural products that can't be patented, no company is going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars proving they work only to have 20 other companies profit from their study. There was a research paper published in 2005, evaluating the safety of garlic in horses because very high doses of the herb are known to cause a specific kind of red blood cell disorder. The research showed that horses that would voluntarily eat more than 0.25 grams of freeze-dried garlic per kilogram of their body weight, twice daily, did develop Heinz body anemia. To put this into perspective, an 1100 pound horse would have to eat 4.4 ounces of pure garlic in two separate meals. Now, this is much more garlic than the label of any equine supplement recommends be fed, but it does show that just because something is natural doesn't necessarily mean it is safe."

I would like to say at this point that my horses do not get fed anything before checking with the vet. As we all know they are very sensitive in the "tummy" department! We did try garlic and it did not seem to work. Furthermore, the horses did not like the taste of it. What they ate gave them very bad breath!

For Further Information:

About Diatomaceous Earth
Veterinary Products for Horses