Nutritech EquiGuard™ Plus

Behavioural problems can be the biggest frustration of a horse owner’s life. Not only are they annoying, but they can be very dangerous as well. These problems may have a multitude of roots, but often (especially when the problems show up in the spring and summer) they have nutritional origins.

There are three major causes of nutritional behavioural problems: mycotoxicosis, magnesium deficiency and too much energy but not enough work to expend it.

EquiGuard™ Plus addresses the first two.

Mycotoxins are produced by fungi that grow in grazed pasture, grains, mixed feeds or hay stored above optimum moisture content. They have been implicated in a variety of acute equine health problems including colic, behavioural disorders, diarrhea, hypersensitivity, abortions and reproductive problems. Low levels have cumulative effects which can gradually damage organ function. There are no practical means of ridding feed of mycotoxins, so EquiGuard™ Plus is used as part of a strategy to help horses exposed to feed containing mycotoxins.

Magnesium deficiency is also a prevalent condition in New Zealand equines, and is often a result of grazing them on dairy pastures that have been treated with potassium fertilizers. Potassium limits the uptake of magnesium, hence the deficiency.

Magnesium deficiency can result in a horse displaying behaviours such as nervousness, reactivity, extreme sensitivity, difficulty focusing, decreased performance, muscle tremors and rapid breathing.

• Mycotoxins are difficult to measure, as many different mycotoxins can be present simultaneously, making analysis difficult and expensive.
• Mycotoxicosis is hard to diagnose; symptoms are usually non-specific, such as behavioural changes, lost performance and higher disease incidence.
• Fungal species coexist and most can produce more than one mycotoxin.
• Mycotoxins are synergistic, meaning combinations have a greater impact than single toxins.

EquiGuard™ Plus is a natural product comprising modified glucomannans from yeast cell wall, chromium and an antioxidant. It acts as a digestive aid and provides nutritional support for horses grazing high endophyte pastures.

• An organic form of magnesium which is more readily and available fastest acting for the horse.
• EquiGuard™ Plus also contains vitamin E and organic chromium to help boost the horses’ immune systems and support muscle function.

May be used in conjunction with EquiPur (natural herbal extract) to aid in detoxification, cleansing horses system and support normal liver function.

Contains per 12.5 g dose (elemental):

Magnesium (organic): 250 mg, Chromium (organic): 1 mg, Vitamin E: 50 IU, Meriden Fusion DYAD™**: 10g (to provide 640g/kg bentonite and 160g/kg of inactivated yeast), Orego-Stim^® flavourant.

High Risk: per day 10kg feed – 2 scoops (25g)

Low Risk: per day 10kg feed – 1 scoop (12.5g)

One 15 ml scoop (included) is approximately 12.5 g.

The rate of inclusion would be dependent upon the severity of the mycotoxin present in the feed in which EquiGuard™ Plus is to be mixed.

Administer to horses by mixing with supplementary feed (cereal/fibre) at the recommended rates. Mix homogeneously with other feed ingredients.