Question

I have recently started feeding a bentonite-clay-based mineral/sea salt product. Because the product is supposed to help with gastric ulcer prevention and help move toxins out of the hindgut, does this mean that other supplements, like probiotics and hoof-growth enhancers, are flushed from the system, too? Does it affect the absorption of other substances? How does food-grade diatomaceous earth help in removing parasites from horses? How much/how often should it be fed? Is there any concern for side effects; it is truly safe for horses? These two products seem great and are all-natural but are new to me, and I’d love to know more about them and their uses.

Answer

You asked several questions, so I will try to answer them one by one to the best of my ability. I don’t know if equine nutritionists really understand the effects of bentonite clay or diatomaceous earth on other supplements because I don’t believe there has been any research done on horses.

Diatomaceous earth is made up of microscopic silica skeletons that can penetrate the skin of parasites to desiccate them and cause them to die. To be effective, it has to physically come in contact with each individual parasite. There has been some research looking at the effectiveness of diatomaceous earth as a dewormer and the results were negligible.

In theory, diatomaceous earth would not interfere with the action of the supplements because it does not bind to the products to inactivate them, but there is the possibility that it would push the supplements through undigested as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract. This might be dependent on the amount of diatomaceous earth fed and whether the other supplements were fed at the same time.

There are no known side effects to diatomaceous earth, and it is thought to be safe for horses.

The best place to get answers about a certain product is from the manufacturer, as presumably it would have all the research and development data. Reputable manufacturers will thoroughly research and test products before offering them in the marketplace. When choosing a product for your horse, rely on more than hearsay. Contact the manufacturer with questions and concerns.