- ▼OMEGA 3, 6, AND 9 FATTY ACIDS
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Customer: “I can’t find Omega Fatty Acids in your ingredients. Don’t horses need this?”
Answer from Ph.D. Equine Nutritionist, Dr. Kelsey Johnson Nonella: Essential fatty acids are very important for your horses. However, they are present in all of the feeds that you feed your horses in varying amounts. Omega 3, 6, and 9 are referred to the double bonds that the fatty acid chains contain. Different feeds contain different ratios of Omega 3 to Omega 6. In our products, you feed such little rations/amounts (2-8 ounces) that if we did add extra fatty acids it would be significant in the horses overall diet. The grains and oils that you provide your horse are playing a much bigger factor in your horse’s need. - ◄WE BATTLE ITCHY HORSES
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Customer: “We battle itchy horses. Do you have any suggestions? We supplement with vitamins and minerals and salt and flax and chondroitin and spirulina and iodine with just enough feed to get the medicine to go down. We don’t supplement with selenium as we live in an area (Houston, Texas) that is good (we think) with selenium w/r/t hay and grass. Our horses are on hay and grass. It seems we need to address the immune system…. Any feedback would be appreciated. We started the horses on half a scoop of the horse guard a month or so ago. One gelding with the poorest hooves of all had exfoliated material scrapped off his hooves this morning. First time in who knows how long…farrier said to keep up with whatever we were doing.”
Answer by Ph.D. equine nutritionist, Kelsey Johnson Nonella: It sounds like you are taking very good care of your horses. Flax helps to ease skin irritations. They may be itching because of biting insects or dry skin. I would recommend applying fly spray multiple times a day and bath them 3x times a week to soothe inflamed or itching skin. Our Flaxen line is Flax Seed based and will help. Flaxen Flow is 100% Flax Seed Oil, which will be a high concentrate of Omega 3's. I hope this helps. We are glad that you like the Biotin Hoof Blast! Our love for horses, drives us to produce the best products out there. - ◄STARCH AND SUGAR CONTENT IN FLIX TREATS
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Customer: "Can you tell me the starch and sugar content of your Flix product? How are you binding it into pellet form (with sugars?)"
Answer by Ph.D. Equine Nutritionist, Kelsey Johnson Nonella: Thank you for the question. The starch and sugar content on Flix is 1% and 8.5%, respectively. Flaxseed has shown to actually lower blood sugar spikes because of the fatty acid balance. The balance provides anti-inflammatory properties, positively affects glucose metabolism, helps control insulin levels in the body, and supports thyroid function. As far as binding the pellets, there is nothing added to put them into pellet form. They are simply cool-pressed under extreme pressure, which leaves about 12% of the oil in the pellet. Of the oil left in the pellets there is 55% omega 3 fatty acids and 14% omega 6 fatty acids. - ◄OPTIMAL OMEGA 3 AND OMEGA 6 RATIO
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Customer: "Hello, I have a Cushings horse and use your Trifecta and Flaxen Flow. What is the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 in the oil and what is optimal for her condition?"
Answer by Ph.D. Equine Nutritionist, Kelsey Johnson Nonella: Thank you for the question. . The optimal Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio is 1:1 of the total diet. So, you need to consider everything you feeding in her diet. The Trifecta and Flow is what I fed my own cushings mare and it supported her wonderfully. The 1:1 concept of the total diet can be a little confusing, so let me expand. The reason why we want our oils to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids rather than a straight 1:1 ratio is because the rest of the diet is usually higher in omega-6 fatty acids. So, for example, if your horse is eating fresh green grass it usually runs at a 1:1 ratio. However, omega-3 fatty acids are more volatile than omega-6 fatty acids. Therefore, when your horse eats hay they are usually consuming more omega-6 fatty acids which is throwing off the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio. In addition, concentrates typically fed in the US, like oats, barley, rice bran, and soybeans, are higher in omega-6 fatty acids. So, our flaxseed oil, FLOW is 55% omega-3 fatty acids and 14% omega-6 fatty acids. This helps offset a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids. Typical western diets for people are extremely high in omega-6 usually 15:1. The omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio is important in the body so it can react accordingly. While omega-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory and omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory, if your ratio is too high in omega-3 fatty acids that body can’t protect itself. I hope this helps clarify it. I did my Masters’ research on omega-3 fatty acids, so I have a wealth of knowledge on the subject. If you need anymore information I would be more than happy to answer. - ◄SWEET ITCH ON THE HIS MANE AND TAIL
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Customer: “Hi Mellody here, my TWH been itching to high heaven’s, mainly his mane and tail. He’s at good weight, as he’s constantly got food in front of him. I just need to get this itching under control.”
Answer from Ph.D. Equine Nutritionist, Dr. Kelsey Johnson Nonella: Thank you for the question. I would recommend trying Flow. Flow is 100% flaxseed oil, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have shown to help reduce itchiness, especially sweet itch, because they provide antihistamine properties. I would recommend feeding a ½ cup of Flow. The Hoof and Hair Guard will help the hair grow back and moisturize the hair follicles. I hope this helps. Let me know if I can answer anymore questions.
Howdy, what benefits besides coat, does cranberry seed oil have? Thank you.
Dr. Kelsey J. Nonella Ph.D., P.A.S.
March 17, 2022
Cranberry seed oil is approximately 30% Omega-3s. However, flaxseed oil is a higher source of Omega 3 fatty acids at 55%. Aside from skin and coat benefits, Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help relieve allergies, aid in glucose metabolism for metabolic horses, boost immunity, a healthy source of fat for horses requiring more calories, and alleviate arthritis!