FAQs
Equine FAQs
Q: Will your product interfere with the medications my horse is on i.e. Marquis?
A: Karbo Combo complements the effectiveness of Marquis in the treatment of EPM and when the horse is kept on a maintenance dose of Karbo Combo, EPM will no longer be able to establish itself in the animal. Follow a two month regimen with the Karbo Combo to restore the horse to a healthy condition. Feed 2oz. both morning and evening for two weeks followed by 1oz. both morning and evening for the next month. Continue to feed the Karbo Combo on a maintenance dose at a level of 1oz. per day to eliminate the possibility of this condition ever recurring. All of the additional benefits of this product are a plus to your horse’s health.
Q: Your instructions say to feed twice a day, but my horse is being boarded and I can only give him the Karbo Combo once a day.
- Why does it need to be given twice a day?
- If I don’t have any other choice, should I increase the amount I give once a day?
A: The reason for twice daily feeding is to keep the blood unit consistent. You can feed the daily recommended dose once a day and it will have the same effect.
Q: Is Karbo Combo a complete vitamin supplement or should I feed something else as well?
A: Karbo Combo has adequate vitamins for a maintenance level. Performance horses or horses under training stress will benefit from additional vitamins in their rations.
Q: If you have one horse on Karbo Combo could he give something to others through his manure if they eat it? I was reading on your site how viruses are expelled from the body in the manure and I am concerned for my other horses that are not on the Karbo Combo.
A: Karbo Combo and Karbo Pellets that are not fully utilized during the digestive process and pass through the horse will not infect another horse exposed to its manure. The benefits of the antibacterial, antiviral and antiprotozoal properties of these supplements effectively control the transmissions of disease and parasites.
Q: I kept my horse on Karbo Flour and Epic II CL for several months then switched to the Karbo Combo. I feel that my horse has not done as well on the Karbo Combo. Do you know why this would be?
A: The supplements you are using, in either liquid or pellet form are equally effective. If your horse is in training or in performance mode, increasing the amount of Karbo Combo in its daily ration will be entirely satisfactory in maintaining its physical condition.
Q: What is considered a reasonable period of time to feed the Karbo Combo and hopefully see improvement in a horse?
A: Depending on the horse’s general condition and level of immune response, Karbo Combo will show decided improvements in 30 days depending on the severity of the conditions listed above.
Q: Have lamanitic/foundered horses been able to return to a grass diet after being put on the Karbo Combo?
A: If the coffin bone has not been damaged to a great degree during the process of the necrotic founder, the addition of the Karbo Combo as early as possible in a suspected founder position has been very beneficial in salvaging the lamina supporting the coffin bone.
Q: What are the percentages of ingredients, particularly calcium? My horse doesn't tolerate calcium, and we feed a diet that has little or no calcium.
A: The Karbo Combo and Karbo Pellet formulation contain 6-8% of organic calcium.
Q: I currently feed Platinum Performance with glucosamine. Will the Karbo Combo replace this and does it help with joint function?
A: Karbo Combo, Karbo Pellets, and Karbo Essentials all have high levels of perna which is extremely beneficial in joint functions and healing.
Q: I have a horse with Shivers and he is on a low carb, high fat diet. Will Karbo Combo contribute to his health and well being?
A: By stimulating all of the immune functions which include the nervous system, the addition of the Karbo Combo or Karbo Pellet supplements, which have adequate amounts of the elements zinc and selenium, may help correct this condition.
Q: My horse will not eat the Karbo Pellets no matter how I mix them in with his feed. Do you have any suggestions to make it more palatable?
A: Any product containing flavors that your horse likes i.e. apple, carrots or others added to the Karbo Pellets may be successful in increasing acceptance. The addition of powdered milk replacers are many times very acceptable to the horse and can be mixed with the pellets and the horse feed.
Q: Would any of your products be beneficial to a barrel horse who is a known bleeder? I do not want to have to give Lasix before every run.
A: Anecdotal evidence has shown over and over that bleeders for whatever the reason are helped in the elimination of this condition when put on a maintenance dose of Karbo Combo or Karbo Pellets.
Q: Do you expect a horse on Karbo Combo to have loose stools initially when started on this product?
A: At times, horses that are put on the Karbo Combo have an unbalanced digestive tract bacteria flora. The intestinal tract contains over 800 strains of bifido bacteria (good gut bacteria). In eliminating the bad bacteria that are present in many horses and allowing the good bacteria to proliferate with the aid of probiotics, diarrhea of a short duration will take place in many cases.
Q: Every time we run out of Karbo Combo our gelding becomes listless and doesn't eat or picks at his food. He acts like he doesn't feel good for about two days and then he starts to feel better. Do you know of this happening? Is it common?
A: This is a common occurrence in many horses because they love the product and feel extremely good when their nutritional needs are being satisfied 100%. Discontinuing or removing the product upsets their entire digestive and immune systems. Realizing that 80% of the horses immune system stimulation takes place in the gut (Peyer’s patches), removing this stimulation by taking away the vulnerable components provided in the Karbo Combo formula upsets the natural stimulation of the immune system.
Q: If I put a horse on Karbo Combo do I also need to keep him on a probiotic? Is it okay, while on the maintenance dose of Karbo Combo to also feed a probiotic once or twice a week?
A: The Karbo Combo and Karbo Pellets have a great number of probiotics in each gram of material. In my opinion, the addition of any probiotics at this time is not necessary as long as the horse is on a maintenance dose.
We apologize that we do not yet have any Bovine specific questions and answers to share with you at this time.
For further information please call 608.617.9626 or email us at [email protected]
We apologize that we do not yet have any Swine specific questions and answers to share with you at this time.
Please call us at 608.617.9626 or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Canine FAQ
Q: I have a litter of puppies and just want to confirm that I can give this to a nursing mom as well as the puppies or would this overload the nursing pups?
A: The use of Karbo Essentials in the pregnant bitch will pass through the placental barrier and will effectively eliminate hood worm and round worm larvae in the bitch and puppies and also promote a functional immune system that will be viable at time of whelping.
Q: I have read some concerns about the calcium carbonate in the Karbo Essentials when given to pregnant bitches. Calcium supplements are ordinarily not given during pregnancy as it increases the chance of eclampsia. I have been giving Karbo Essentials to all of my dogs, including the pregnant ones. Should I discontinue its use during pregnancy?
A: I would suggest that you maintain all of your bitches on the Karbo Essentials with its high levels of calcium. The possibility of those animals developing eclampsia or milk fever is rare. If they do develop eclampsia, please remember that the treatment is calcium IV or orally.
We apologize that we do not yet have any Feline specific questions and answers to share with you at this time.
Please call Dr. Smith at 608.742.6014 or email us at [email protected] and we will get your questions answered and posted to the website.
We apologize that we do not yet have any Bird specific questions and answers to share with you at this time.
Please call Dr. Smith at 608.742.6014 or email us at [email protected] and we will get your questions answered and posted to the website.
We apologize that we do not yet have any Camelid specific questions and answers to share with you at this time.
Please call Dr. Smith at 608.742.6014 or email us at [email protected] and we will get your questions answered and posted to the website.
General Questions
Q: Besides testimonials, what studies have been done and what characteristics are you measuring? How are you measuring increased immune response and a healthier animal and over what time period and on what types of horses?
A: We have no scientific studies other than anecdotal evidence provided by animal owners. The characteristics that we are seeking include the elimination as so far as possible in controlling viruses, bacteria and protozoa with naturally occurring organic compounds. These compounds stimulate the immune systems of animals and birds to produce ionophors (electrical discharges) which kill the above mentioned organisms. Ionophors take no prisoners and they kill the offending organisms. The increase in the immune response is measured by licensed laboratories that people hire to collect blood samples for their animals and render a diagnosis of the animal’s immune status.
Q: Are there any peer-reviewed veterinary journal articles that analyze your product and its effects?
A: At the present time, to my knowledge, there are no published university studies using the Karbo Combo or Karbo Pellets.
Q: I am wondering if the heat wave we are experiencing will affect the potency of your product. Will a 90 degree tack room deteriorate the product?
A: Temperatures above 110°F will harm the vitamins and probiotics.
Q: What is the advantage of Karbo Combo over the Karbo Pellets or Karbo Flour?
A: Karbo Combo is made up by adding the Epic and Karbo Flour formulation together into one convenient package. Epic, a liquid formulation, acts very quickly and with Karbo Pellets achieves the goals we seek in horse health at a rapid rate. Karbo Combo achieves the same goals, but at a slightly slower rate.
Q: What is the shelf life of your products and how should they be stored?
A: The shelf life of all of our Karbo Products as well as Epic II CL is two years from the date of production. Temperatures over 110°F harm the vitamins and the probiotics contained in the product. Freezing and thawing are not detrimental at all.
Q: The last order of Karbo Combo that I bought seems to have a different color and odor. Have you changed the formula or is this normal?
A: Any organic compound exposed to environmental conditions such as variations in temperature, moisture, or air quality will have an effect on odor and consistency. Finicky eaters, because of their enhanced sense of smell, may show a variation in preference.
Q: Our gallon jug of Epic II CL got frozen this week. Is it still okay to use?
A: Freezing and thawing of the Epic CL II has no effect on its overall efficiency. However, raising the temperature above 110°F or higher, will begin to destroy the encapsulated enzymes, vitamins and probiotics.