The simple answer is: by watching and keeping track of evacuation (e.g. manure texture and frequency, urine quality, and other digestion-related behaviors). All of these evacuation processes should be monitored daily. If your horse is ever lethargic or doesn't respond readily to feed or water, pay attention, as these behavors are warning signs that something is amiss. Nobody knows your animals’ habits better than you, so you should watch them closely to make sure you're on top of any problem areas that may arise. Your animals may not speak your language, so it is up to you to learn to listen to and speak theirs. When you know your horse isn't giving you 100%, this should be an alert for you, as horses tend to want to give you their best performance. Another way you can help manage their health is by learning about your horse's teeth and feet. It's smart to consult farriers, groomers, dentists, and other horse-care specialists during this process. By learning from these professionals, they can teach you the warning signs to look out for so you can be proactive in caring for your horse's health. With this knowledge, you will be well on your way to detecting and solving problems needed to manage and provide better care for your horse.

What we at Silver Lining Herbs see the most in animals are kidneys, liver, and immune deficiencies. We look at their rich feeds for kidney issues, such as high protein alfalfa hay (fed at the wrong time of year; the hotter feeds need to be fed when it's cold to help build body heat), corn, barley, molasses, rice bran, and many of the highly publicized feed products. Along with unnatural environments where horses aren't able to exercise, stretch, or run spontaneously, and in these areas where there are high protein grasses, horses don't need to be on rich feeds 24/7. It's far better to have your horse out on pasture for 12 hours and then place them in a corral for 12 hours with fresh water. Of course, water should be available at all times for both horses and dogs. Liver problems occur from the overuse of chemicals — such as wormers and excessive immunizations — along with herbicides and insecticides that are used to raise the feeds that are fed to our animals. The immune system suffers when it lives in stressful environments — such as showing and hauling, changes in feed and water, and simply put, “Jet Lag”.

All animals are different, therefore each requires different amounts and types of attention for their needs. There's a rule of thumb that states that it takes one month of health rebuilding for each year the animal has experienced a health problem — with a minimum of three months of health restoration needed for most problems. In most cases, horses and dogs respond very well to herbal products because their systems are not full of junk foods. A healthy environment, fresh water, exercise, consistency, and more all play an important role in the healing process.

Herbs are assimilated at the cellular level as the herbs enter the body and travel throughout the body's internal systems. It may take 30-90 days for the benefits of a new, complete, and healthy diet to take effect in the body.