Meet Dr. Mark
“I created DEC to help horse owners
understand how proper nutrition
can help your horse reach its
maximum potential.”
Dr. DePaolo grew up in Sherwood, Oregon and during a Boy Scout summer camp near Mt. Hood, fell in love with horses. His first horse, Shadow, was a rescue from a neglectful neighbor. That inspired Dr. Mark to pursue a career in veterinary medicine to help other horses and educate their owners. He earned his veterinary degrees from Oregon State University and Washington State University in 1994.
After working at Deer Park Veterinary Clinic and South Clackamas Veterinary Service, both mixed practice clinics, Dr. Mark decided to specialize. He furthered his education by learning equine chiropractic and acupuncture in order to open his own practice, Pacific Northwest Equine, Inc. He graduated from Colorado State University’s Acupuncture program in 2000.
In 2005, Dr. Mark’s passion in holistic care spurred him to create a new venture, DePaolo Equine Concepts, Inc. This web-based business focuses on equine nutrition and owner education. Dr. Mark is constantly striving to create new methods to treat the many problematic issues people experience with their horses.
Looking to broaden the awareness of holistic equine medicine, Dr. Mark moved to Horse Country U.S.A. in the summer of 2011. Using Pilot Point, Texas as his base of operations he opened a new veterinary practice, All Star Equine, LLC.
In his spare time Dr. Mark enjoys competitive shooting, inventing, traveling, and spending time with his wife, their horses and their dogs. Dr. Mark would like to share that he was the fastest in his class at the Las Vegas Richard Petty Driving School, where he drove a NASCAR-style race car 139 mph!
Dr. DePaolo operates his veterinary practice, All Star Equine, out of Pilot Point, Texas. Services provided include equine chiropractic, acupuncture, and nutrition evaluation. To book an appointment with Dr. DePaolo, please call the scheduling line: 940-268-6460.
DEC blog 
Hi. I have a question for Dr. Mark. Two questions I guess.
I just ordered the hay analysis. So now do I just find an address
on your site to which I go ahead and mail a sample of the mane,
or do I wait for instructions coming? Didn’t see what my next step should be.
Also, if I’m using Dynamite Clay and coloidal silver with a horse at the same time,
is there a recommendation for how many hours apart to feed them? I understand
it may be at best counterproductive to feed them too close together.
Thanks!
Hi,
I have a 30 yr. old gelding who was dx with epm and a friend told me about Colloidal Silver. My vet told me because of his age treatment would be expensive and probably not work, just curious what your thoughts would be? My gelding has never had any health issues, he looks better than alot of 8-10 yr geldings.
Hi Kristy,
We believe in helping all horses at any age. No horse is ever too old to feel better! If you can afford it, we recommend the DEC Neurologic Kit which has Colloidal Silver as well as 2 other products. If you want to start with just one item, ABC’s EPM Supplement would be great. http://www.depaoloequineconcepts.com/products/neurologic-kit-2-csilver-1-epm-1-chvel
Hi,
Our vet has recommended a product called hylal1 for our 20 year old Arab with an arthritic knee. I can’t seem to find that product on your website. Could you advise if this product would be a good try? Thanks.
Denise
Hi Denise,
Yes! This product is great for joint health. The product name is spelled HyalONE. If you visit our online store at http://www.depaoloequineconcepts.com or go directly to this link you can find it. http://depaoloequineconcepts.com/products/hyalone-h1.
Thank you,
Carter
Thank you for your response so quickly! Unfortunately we can’t afford the hylalONE.
Can you recommend another product less expensive but just as effective for joint pain relief?
Thank you,
Denise
Hi Denise,
There are supplements in the market with glucosamine and hyaluronic acid that could help. They won’t be as effective as the HyalONE. Ours is an actual horse dose while some on the market don’t even have a human dose. In the next 6-8 weeks we will be coming out with a complete vitamin and mineral supplement with joint support in it. That could be a way to be more cost effective for you. Check back on our website in the next month or two.
Good luck!
Carter
Hi Dr. Mark. I find your information in step with other research I have done as well as being innovative in finding solutions to health issues. My question is two fold. First, I live in British Columbia Canada and our soil is deficient in Selenium, therefore we must supplement. I use a low glycemic mulit-mineral supplement pellet (vet recommended), however it does contain a small amount of molasses. This supplement is fed in small 2x/day dosage feeds (less than 2kg/day). I am sceptical to change to the rice bran/alfalfa pellet/beet pulp feed because of our known selenium deficiency. I don’t see a complete supplement available in your online store either. Given that I feed the supplement in low doses along with a scoop of beet pulp to help digestion in the hind gut, do you see a problem with continuing my present program. I would like to add your ulcer prevention feed as well. Second question, where/how do I order your products? I live a long way from you. Do you sell in stores?
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for your comments. I will forward the email to Dr. DePaolo and have him respond directly to you in the next day or two.
Best regards,
Carter
Mark. We need tryptophan for Eli. Can’t find it in your catalog. Do you not have it anymore or are you calling it something else.
It appears Spring may be here at last…At least we hope so. Clay may ride one more year. He’s 15 and really into archery…so it goes. When that time comes I’ll sell Eli.
Hope all is well with you guys.
Karen
Dr. Mark, I have a 7 year old Irish Sport horse. Last fall she tied up when I put her on Ultim feed. So I started her on 2 qt alfalfa pellets & 1 qt Black oil sunflower seeds. She gets MSM, VE & Selenium, pro biotic, Raspberry leaves. She has done well on this diet I Fox Hunted her and no issues. Now just this Sunday she tied up again. She has had some time off but is turned out everyday and has nice turn out. Is it just the spring grass or is there something else that I can do for her?
Thank you for your time,
Michele Deutsch
Hi Michele,
Dr. Mark is away at a horse show but I will relay your message to him. We have had success treating horses that frequently tie up with our Horse Hair Analysis and Personal Supplement. Tying up can be related to a nutritional deficiency or imbalance. Once that is settled the horse is much healthier. Please visit our website (www.depaoloequineconcepts.com) for more information on HHA.
Thank you.
I have a 18yo quarter horse gelding who has thin hoof walls, feet that easily chip and crack. My barefoot farrier recommends I have the hair analysis done…but I am wondering should I take him off his vitamin & hoof supplements for a period of time before I send in a hair sample? He
lives in Corvallis, Oregon, gets valley grass hay,4 cups of Equine Senior Healthy Edge, Horse Guard vitamins, Farriers Formula Double Strength and Cosequine. I had my vet do nutritional blood work in June of this year and he was very high (not toxic) in Iron and selenium. He was very low, but not deficient, in zinc. He’s been getting the Farriers Formula for 4 years, the horse guard for a year, and Cosequine for two years (more as a preventative) since I have not observed any signs of Arthritis or stiffness. I understand that iron can inhibit the absorption of the zinc….so I’m wondering if this is contributing to the hoof problems….but we have high iron in our water,and I understand it may be added by the manufacturers, to the supplements and feed I am using…but not listed on the ingredients. What do you suggest? Should I stop the supplements for a month or so before I do the hair analysis???
Hi Mary,
You don’t want to stop the supplements before doing the HHA because we want to know how the horse is processing the current supplements you are giving. If you purchase an HHA Dr. DePaolo will do a feed evaluation of your entire feed program and address any concerns he might have with the current program. If you want to learn more about his feeding protocol, I suggest you visit our Health Library on the website (www.depaoloequineconcepts.com)
Blood testing is a very poor test for minerals. Iron can inhibit the absorption of zinc but the iron in the water may be bio unavailable. You will get a much more accurate reading of what is going into your horse through HHA. If you want to read more about blood testing vs. hair testing, please visit the Horse Hair Analysis section on our website (www.depaoloequineconcepts.com).
Thank you for your inquiry.
Mark. We are trying to order a ten pound tub of lysine. Can’t seem to get it done on the net. Can you contact me so I can give you the credit card number. Eli is just about out and this stuff keeps him sound with no abcesses. Thanks so much
Hi Karen,
I will have Mark or Jacqui give you a call or you can try the office line at (940)686-9111.
Thanks!
Carter
Mark..probably should have left you my cell #…541-294-3918…Hope all is well with you guys. Karen
Hi Dr. Mark, I started reading your articles on equine ulcers and nutrition when my vet /acccupunturist /chiropractor told me that my mare had ulcers. I treated her for 14 days with Omeprazole, read everything I could get my hands on, added Excel to her diet, and transitioned her from a standard all-purpose feed to a diet of 1/4 .c raw pumpkin seeds, 1/4 c.dried cabbage, 1/2 c freshly ground flax seed, 2 c alfalfa pellets and 1 c. rice bran, fed twice daily. She doesn’t have constant access to hay, so I got a slow feeder hay net to at least make her three rations/day last longer. I have a couple of questions. My mare still has some lumbar soreness. I’ve read that ground oat flour can be good for healing the hind gut. Since I’ve read on your site that oats aren’t a great choice, what would you recommend instead? If we are trying to limit sugars, to what extent should I limit treats like apples and carrots? Aren’t they really just sugars too?
Thanks!
Tamison Rose
Hi Tamison,
Dr. Mark recommends rice bran or soaked beat pulp instead of traditional ‘grain’ or oats. If you want more protein then add alfalfa pellets. If you want more fat then add olive oil. Treats like apples and carrots are fine – they are much better than most store bought treats that are loaded with processed sugars. Yes, apples and carrots are naturally high in sugar but one a day should be fine. Make sure the lumbar soreness isn’t a chiropractic issue or an ill fitting saddle. It sounds like you are doing everything correctly and we applaud you for taking a pro-active approach to your horse’s health!
Hi, I ordered some Excel for my 6yr old mare, do I need to start her with anything else with it?
Try her on the Excel and see if her symptoms decrease. You can also put her on an Omeperazole paste short term, usually 10-14 days, and that will jump start the healing process. Thanks!
Orion is a 27 year old gelding seen in Oregon by Dr. Mark. He recently moved to a new place. His ribs are showing and we are coming into fall. What do you recommend?
Alida
Hi Alida,
There are a number of things that could be affecting Orion. First Dr. Mark would recommend watching his ulcer palpation video on YouTube and then doing the test on him. Sometimes moving to a new place can create stress which in turn results in stomach ulcers. If that isn’t the issue then Dr. Mark would recommend you seeing your regular vet to make sure he doesn’t have worms or parasites or another underlying issue.
Thank you.
Dr Mark.I have a 5 year old gelding.who I’ve owned since birth.Im Sure he has ulcers what should I do to help him? He is currrntly kn Enrich 32 grain, magnisium 5, 000 and probiotics.I could REALLY use your help with making him more comfortable. I just need step by step instructions.thank u.
Hi Carrie,
Please visit our YouTube channel and watch the videos on ulcer diagnosis and treatment. You can also visit our online store for our digestive support supplement Excel. There is a video there too. If you still need help, please call the office line and Dr. Mark will help you. Thank you!
Hello Dr. DePaolo, I have used your Acupuncture points do diagnose if my horse may have ulcers. A friend send me your videos. Well as I thought, he reacts pretty good .
I don’t wanna say he has severe reactions, since he does not jump around or wanna really kick. However he started to wanna bite my feet when I ride him, and will try to bite me when I’m right by his elbow.
I live here in Germany and I did make some researches about your medication plan. Now, since i am here in Germany did I looked for meds here to get, however It just has me very confused since it does not really say how many mg Opremazol per KG weight of the horse.
One says 4mg/KG for 28 days, the other 0,7mg-1,4mg.
The 4mg/KG over 28 Days will cost me a fortune. I am helpless. What can i do?
My horse has also PSSM, he already gets a diet with 90% 24/7 Hay and no grains. Only some Mineral feed that has been customized for him through his Blood analytic.
Hello Jasmin,
Dr. DePaolo suggests feeding 1/2 a tube twice daily of his Omeprazole paste for 10 days and then going down to 1/4 tube twice daily for another 14 days. His paste has 3.2g of Omeprazole per tube. It also has Bismuth and Sodium Bicarbonate.
I hope that information helps.
Thank you.
HI there
I have a horse with very bad sweat itch any advice? I live in south africa. i am tired of try this and that and nothing seems to work or help.
Although we don’t offer Horse Hair Analysis in South Africa you might want to look into testing either your horse’s hair or your water source for heavy metals. An immune booster, such as Lysine, might help too. Good luck to you!
Hi Mark. I spoke to you yesterday about my mare Jewel and her hair analysis. I ordered the tranquility and the excel. What is your opinion on join supplements for young horses. She is 4 years old and I do rein cow. She is my long time horse so should I start on a preventative program. Also what is your opinion about OSPHOS treatments twice a year?
Hi Debbie, I’ll pass along your questions to Dr. Mark. He is leaving for Oklahoma City today for the Arabian Youth Championships. It might be a day or two before I get an answer for you. Thanks,
Carter
Hi, can the HylaOne be used on dogs?
Absolutely. We use it on our dogs (and ourselves)!
Hello! I have a horse that has been suffering from ulcers for 7 months now (that we know of) and almost unrideable. Through trial and error I was able to figure this out and then get confirmation from the vet. I am finishing a 30 day course of omperazole and I have just ordered excel from your site. I have added alfalfa pellets in the morning and a flake of alfalfa in the afternoon, currently I feed orchard grass hay in the am and pm. Would you recommend changing over to timothy hay or stay with orchard grass? I appreciate your feedback
Hi Stephanie, orchard grass should be fine. The most important thing is to make sure your horse has access to hay for a large portion of the day. A slow feeder works great. Horses shouldn’t go for long periods of fasting and in fact are healthiest when they can graze up to 18 hours a day. Also make sure that there is no soy, sugar, molasses in your “grain” if you are feeding it. It sounds like you are on the right track!
With the chelation process what products do you use and how do you support the kidneys and liver to rid them of excess buildup of metals??
Please visit http://www.horsehairanalysis.com for more information or feel free to call the office with questions. Thank you.
You mentioned that, to treat stomach ulcers, you recommend a 10 day course of Omeprazole. At what dose?
The DePaolo Equine Concepts product with Omeprazole is called Ulcer Rx each tube contains 3.2g of Omeprazole along with Bismuth Subsalicylate and Sodium Bicarbonate. For an average size horse, 1/2 tube twice daily by mouth (treatment) and 1/4 tube twice daily by mouth (prevention).
I currently have my horse on Hiero and chaste berry, but now I ordered the Harmony from you. Want to make sure he can have Harmony and Hiero together. His blood work after being on chaste and Hiero came down some and cortisol levels improved but my vet thinks not enough for him to go out to pasture, which I really want, so I thought I would add Harmony to his diet.