Question
I recently adopted an 18-year-old Appaloosa mare. The vet diagnosed her with pneumonia and asthma. He put her on a course of antibiotics, a bronchodilator, and prednisone. The vet also recommended EO-3 as a supplement to help her. How would EO-3 help breathing?
Answer
Many horses with chronic inflammatory conditions such as heaves benefit from EO-3, a direct source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Omega-3 fatty acids help strengthen the immune system, which is believed to be hyperactive in asthmatic conditions. After corticosteroids and bronchodilators, the most current American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statement on equine asthma recommends supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA.
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids must be balanced within the body for both to be effective. The significant biological difference between the two is related to their roles as precursors of inflammatory and immune intermediaries. The inflammatory response that originates from omega-3 fatty acids is moderate compared to the more “pro-inflammatory” response driven by omega-6 fatty acids.
Feedstuffs have varying levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The natural diet of horses—primarily fresh and dried forages—contains more omega-3 fatty acids than diets consisting of a mixture of forage and grains.
There are two primary forms of omega-3s. Short-chain omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) are found mostly in plant-based sources, such as flax. After ingestion, ALA must be converted to EPA and DHA by the horse for optimal benefit. EPA and DHA are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Marine-derived oils, such as EO-3, supply a direct source of EPA and DHA, and do not depend on the conversion of ALA, making it an immediately available source of these biologically active fatty acids.
Check out these relevant articles.
Eight Tips for Healthy Horse Lungs
Reversing Asthma-Related Changes in Horse’s Lungs
