I’ve been using Zylkene for four months to help my mare relax. It is a milk protein (casein) that works on the muscles. Believe I see an improvement in my mare. Anyone else out there with feedback? Casein is available at health food stores but I don’t know if it would be an equivalent for equine use. It is not listed as a prohibited substance by USEF.
I was told by my vet to give it to one of the dogs that suffer from anxiety from storms etc. seems to work. My vet said more animal behaviorists are using it for dogs instead of Prozac etc. I haven’t heard about its use in horses but from what my dog vet said I Could understand that the substance has potential.
I have also heard of it used for canine anxiety. It is also added to feline c/d, which is a prescription food formulated for cats with FLUTD (which is caused by stress).
I attended a seminar put on by a Vetoquinol rep at the vet clinic. It definitely seems like a product with a lot of potential, based on what I heard.
If I remember correctly (the seminar was months ago), it is a derivative of casein, and much more concentrated. I think if you just went and bought casein you’d have to dose a huge amount.
I don’t believe it works on the muscles though - I thought it worked on brain chemistry to lower or block cortisol (the stress hormone). This allows the horse to remain calmer and therefore absorb the training you are trying to instill.
For those using this product, any updates positive or negative?
This is a link to a study done a few years ago by U-Penn New Bolton. Had a discussion with one of the unnamed vets that participate.
My take away, shows merit but further study is needed. “Results” seemed to be inconsistent, unreliable. As told there are “better things on the market”.
http://research.vet.upenn.edu/portals/49/lab%20publications/calming%20benefit.pdf
I tried it on a cat with geriatric-induced anxiety. Did nothing as far as I could tell. YMMV.
A horse at my work barn was on it for a bit last year and it made him unrideably wired. And this is a horse who is wired enough as it is, to the point where he has to have melotonin or he won’t relax enough to get adequate sleep and then he colics. Biggest basketcase I’ve ever met (and no, he’s not a TB!)
I use casein as a protein source in breakfast shakes for myself, because it is a slower burning protein, and it doesn’t upset my tummy the way that whey does. I don’t find it to have any sort of relaxing effect, but then I’m not sure if it’s supposed to for people or not. Certainly is tasty though. Haha
Tried it for my horse when rehabbing. Didn’t do anything except make him give me the hairy eyeball because he wasn’t keen on eating it (has a strong flavoring odor).
Awesome!! I used it on a tricky horse who was on stall rest and walking and trotting on the gravel road to rehab a suspensory injury. Worked like a charm!! Much better than Ace or Reserpine.
I tried it, didn’t work, and now I am stuck with a bunch of expensive packets:-(
Thank you! This is very informative feedback.
Interesting! I’ve been wondering if it was worth money. My poor guy is terrified when the vet comes-- she mentioned this product. I checked it out online and was shocked at the price tag.
Seems like some people love it, others see no difference. I’m not sure $100+ for 20 packets and a huge gamble seem worth it, despite Vetroquinol’s convincing marketing.
Any others with drastically improved behaviors want to chime in?
[QUOTE=Dark horse17;9001879]
Interesting! I’ve been wondering if it was worth money. My poor guy is terrified when the vet comes-- she mentioned this product. I checked it out online and was shocked at the price tag.
Seems like some people love it, others see no difference. I’m not sure $100+ for 20 packets and a huge gamble seem worth it, despite Vetroquinol’s convincing marketing.
Any others with drastically improved behaviors want to chime in?[/QUOTE]
“I’m not sure $100+ for 20 packets and a huge gamble seem worth it, despite Vetroquinol’s convincing marketing.”
That’s basically what my vet told me. As I said there are much more reliable, tried and true things available.
I don’t mind being the “guinea pig” when it comes to new products just don’t think we should have to pay to be one. Make it inexpensive until proven and then jack the price up. Horse meds aren’t subjected to or have to meet the same criteria that
human meds do.
Gumtree–Could you name the “much more reliable, tried and true things available” please? I have a youngster who’s Jeckel and Hyde appropos of just about everything. Thx.
I’ve used this with my cat and had positive short term results. Calms her down enough that I can do difficult grooming, and provides short term temporary reduction of anxiety while boarding her. I like it because I’ve seen stronger sedatives freak a cat out and this just kind of relaxes her. No idea how it works on horse though…
[QUOTE=Hermein;9002173]
Gumtree–Could you name the “much more reliable, tried and true things available” please? I have a youngster who’s Jeckel and Hyde appropos of just about everything. Thx.[/QUOTE]
Not for me to say. Depends on a number of things and what is trying to be accomplished. I tend/try not to give advice, comment on this, training etc about a horse/s that I have not seen let along worked with.
The vet I mentioned in my comment was here today and I brought this up and the study link I attached. She was not part of that study but was in a follow up that was done last year. It is not available on line yet. They went about “things” differently in the follow up. But from what I understood results were still very much “mixed”.
From what I gather the biggest issue is the same as I said in my previous post, very inconsistent and unpredictable desired effect. You have to start/give for 3 days to even see if it will have any effect.
For those that give their experience with their small animals. We are talking horses a bit like comparing apples to oranges.
“I have a youngster who’s Jeckel and Hyde”
I hear ya, lol. I decided to sell 4 TB short yearlings at the last moment in a sale at the end of the month. They have been living out 23-7 pretty much since birth. Just getting them into the barn a few weeks ago was a trip. We all have heard the term “terrible 2s” for kids. Double that with some short yearlings. 2 were reasonably easy 2 were complete SOBs.
My vet was here to do Coggins, some vacs and insert a ID Chip (a big needle) needed for the auction sale. Gave them all 3 Ace pills. Which work well but the dosage is tricky and unpredictable. Its best to give before needed so as to ascertain dosage for the individual.
Worked well enough on the biggest B who has been PITA to catch in the stall. But at least she capitulates once the shank is on. She seemed to be “dosed” well enough, hard to tell. Decided to start with what I thought would be the toughest (her) but she turned out to be the easiest once caught.
After we finished with the rest and went to turn out. That B would NOT let me catch her. Back to square one, teaching her about the hand that feeds. No feed for you unless you cooperate. She’ll be hungry and more cooperative in the morning and hearing her stall mate munching on breakfast.
We have used it twice on horses that are horrible for the vet. Both horses knew the vet coming out and bite, strike, rear, the full deal. The have both been given dorm gel in the past. They could get their vaccines, etc but were still attempting to act up, their aim just wasn’t good and they were much slower. They still hated every minute of it, they were just too drunk to stop it from happening. Both are over 1000 lbs so got 2 packs once a day for 3 days before the vet visit. Both were great. They allowed the vet to walk up to them, feed them cookies (which never happened before - they were too busy trying to bite), and give their vaccines without so much as a pinned ear. The vet could stay standing there, and both horses were wide awake but cool as cucumbers. It cost more for the packs than one dose of dorm gel, but both horses came out of the experience happier and will hopefully be better next time.
