There was a letter written in the January Practical horseman talking about
cyanide etc., but the reply was a quote from Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD,
DACVN....
.....There is no risk, If there were, we'd have had
hundreds of dead horses annually for more than a hundred years.
Flaxseed that is fed whole and
unsoaked is not digested by the horse. At best it goes
through him. At worst, it might accumulate in the gate and,if
fed in large enough quantities, cause an impaction.
To me, this is an alarming statement to make. I've been feeding it
for years now, without grinding it, but only 1 to 2 cups daily. I have
noticed a distinct improvement in my horses skin regarding her fly allergies
when I use 2 cups a day in the fly season. This, of course is ancedotal
evidence, and I'd be interested in finding more information. Any one know
of a place where there's a list of studies with the results (that I don't have
to be a vet to access)?
