Activated charcoal is a strange term that sounds like nothing related to horses or horse care. The reality is, it may be a viable substance to keep your horse alive in an emergency – but not just any emergency.
Equine atypical myopathy is a fatal affliction that comes from horses ingesting certain seeds found in pastures, such as sycamore tree seeds and box elder tree seeds. Those seeds include the toxic hypoglycin A, which can cause fever, dermatological reactions, digestive problems, muscle tremors and muscle degeneration. It can even result in sudden death within a few days. Those seeds are mostly present in the fall when the leaves and seeds drop to the ground.
That’s where activated charcoal comes in. It’s a porous, carbonized organic matter used as a detoxifying agent to absorb toxins or poisons. Researchers have concluded that giving activated charcoal orally to horses can protect them from atypical myopathy because it metabolizes the intestines and stops the gut from absorbing the disease into the blood. To be effective, it should be given shortly after toxic substances have been ingested. If the substances have already reached the gut, activated charcoal will not be effective.
It’s often administered with a laxative to allow substances absorbed by the charcoal to pass through the gut faster.
Of course, activated charcoal should only be given by a veterinarian. If powdered, the vet will usually dilute it with water to help it work its way through his system, though granular is easier to mix. The substance doesn’t taste good, which is why a veterinarian will likely administer it through nasogastric tubes placed into the stomach and introduced by syringe or gravity.
There are concerns with activated charcoal, because there is limited information and research on its effects – so it shouldn’t be given at the drop of a hat. Although it absorbs toxic substances, the main concern is that it may also absorb much-needed metabolites produced in the stomach, such as fatty acids inside the colon which serve as a necessary energy source. So far, researchers seem to think the benefit outweighs the fear.
As mentioned, sudden death is a possibility, but don’t let that scare you. Giving the medicine is a relatively simple procedure and can be an effective treatment – just always consult a professional and closely monitor his fever, dermatological reactions and digestive problems. Activated charcoal may give your horse its best chance at returning to proper health.
If you want to better avoid all of this, your best bet is to check your pasture and always be aware of your surroundings wherever you ride.
