Glossary D - F
D is For…
Devil's Claw otherwise known as Harpagophytum procumbens grows only in the Kalahari Desert in Namibia. The roots are collected in the wild and exported all over the world, where they are extremely widely used in human as well as animal medicines Devil's Claw is reputed to have two main effects - analgesic (painkilling) and anti-inflammatory.
Dextrose A sirupy, or white crystalline, variety of sugar, {C6H12O6}, occurring in many ripe fruits. Dextrose and levuloseare obtained by the inversion of cane sugar or sucrose, and hence called invert sugar. Dextrose is chiefly obtained by the action of heat and acids on starch, and hence called also {starch sugar}. It is also formed from starchy food by the action of the amylolytic ferments of saliva and pancreatic juice.
Dimethylglycine (DMG) helps your horse use oxygen better at the cellular level, can reduce lactic acid build-up, shorten recovery time after strenuous exercise, and reduce cramping. DMG allows your animal to maintain peak performance for a longer period, and to return post-stress blood lactate levels to normal more quickly. DMG is a biologically active, organic compound and controlling agent essential for normal homeostasis, health and growth, which if absent, causes deficiency, disease or disorder. DMG is synthesized (produced) within the body, but not in sufficient quantity to meet the demands of the body due to heredity, stress or disease. DIMETHYLGLYCINE (DMG) is a versatile metabolic enhancer that has been used in the equine and small animal fields for over twenty years to improve performance and enhances recovery from several health problems.
Diuretic any substance that tends to increase the flow of urine from the horse
D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE see Vitamin B5
E is For…
Electrolytes in horses, this term is used to describe minerals lost in sweat and urine. Elerctrolytes keep the muscle tissue properly hydrated and prevent metabolic imbalances that can lead to muscle dysfunction.
Enzymes are incredibly efficient proteins which breakdown carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in food into forms the body can absorb and use. They are critically important for the horse (and all mammals) to efficiently digest its food. Organs and glands in the body of all animals produce enzymes. There are cellulases for cellulose, amylases for sugars and starches, proteases for proteins, and lipases for fats.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) Fatty acids needed for bodily functions, including tissue repair – they must be obtained from the diet. Found in oils such as soya, corn, wheatgerm and cod liver oil.
F is For…
Fatty Acids Nutritional substances found in nature that are fats or lipids. These include triglycerides, cholesterol fatty acids and prostaglandins. Fatty Acids include stearic, palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), decosahexanoic acid. Other lipids of nutritional importance include lecithin, choline, gamma-linoleic acid and inositol.
Fibre Essential dietary component. Some fibre sources are more indigestible than others for horses – for example, straw is less digestible than grass. Hay, grasses and chaff are high in digestible fibre. Fibre sources are broken down by micro-organisms in the hindgut.
Folic Acid an organic compound essential to growth and health and needed by bacteria as a growth factor. Part of Vitamin B Complex, folic acid is necessary for synthesis of nucleic acids and formation of the heme component of haemoglobin in red blood cells.
Free Radicals During the natural metabolic function, many chemical compounds are formed. Among these chemicals are a group referred to as "free radicals", which are harmful substances. They can do a lot of harm. We now know that most of the major diseases that kill or ruin the quality of life do their damage by means of free radicals. They are constantly attacking body proteins, carbohydrates, fats and DNA, causing potentially serious damage unless checked. (See Anti-Oxidants)
Fructans Compounds of fructose (complex or ‘storage’ carbohydrates) found in grass – an excess of which is linked with laminitis.