Question

Can supplementing 60 ml of fish oil a day give a horse diarrhea?

Answer

That small amount of fish oil (60 ml) should not give a horse diarrhea, especially if it is divided into two feedings in a day. However, there may be the sensitive individual that reacts differently than the majority of the population.

If you think your horse might be sensitive, remove all the fish oil from the diet until the diarrhea is resolved. Then start by adding a small amount (10 ml) to the diet for a couple of days to see if the diarrhea returns. If there is no recurrence of diarrhea, then increase the amount in the diet gradually until you are feeding the desired amount.

Though fish oil is an excellent way to furnish omega-3 fatty acids, it is an expensive way to feed fat. About 60 ml per day of fish oil should be enough to supply the necessary omega-3 fatty acids. If you want the horse to consume more fat in the winter, you may consider giving the horse some canola or soy oil as well as the fish oil. With these oils you can feed nearly one-half liter per day if needed.