Horsetail
2 foods contain this ingredient
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About Horsetail
Horsetail is a silica-rich plant, dried and included in some pet supplements for its traditional association with skin, coat, and connective tissue support.
Horsetail is an herbal ingredient sometimes included in pet supplements and foods as a source of silica and trace minerals and is traditionally used to support skin, coat, nails and connective tissue. Scientific evidence in dogs and cats is limited, and horsetail contains thiaminase (which can deplete vitamin B1) and may concentrate soil contaminants, so it should be used only in small amounts or under veterinary supervision and avoided in animals with suspected thiamine deficiency, pregnancy, or certain medical conditions.
Related ingredients
- Derived from
- dried aerial parts of Equisetum arvense (field horsetail) or related Equisetum species
- Primary role
- botanical additive marketed as a silica and trace mineral source
Why it's used
Horsetail is included in some herbal pet supplements for its silica content and traditional herbal use supporting skin, coat, nail, and connective tissue health, though controlled research in dogs and cats specifically is limited compared to its long history of use in herbal medicine.
Common concerns
- Thiaminase content Horsetail contains thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine (vitamin B1); ASPCA's toxic plant database lists field horsetail as toxic to horses via this mechanism, with documented effects of weakness, weight loss, staggering gait, and tremors in that species, while data specific to dogs and cats is less established.
- Contaminant concentration As with many wild-harvested botanicals, horsetail can concentrate minerals and contaminants from the soil it grows in, which is a reason sourcing and processing quality matter for supplement-grade material.
Also relevant
Because thiaminase-related effects depend on quantity and duration of exposure, occasional trace amounts in a formulated supplement differ meaningfully from large or repeated ingestion of the raw plant.
Common Questions
What category is Horsetail?
Horsetail is categorized as a herb ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Horsetail part of an allergen group?
No allergen group is linked to Horsetail in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Horsetail?
2 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Horsetail, including Only Natural Pet.
Foods with Horsetail
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
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