Page 98 - July_2023

VETERINARY VIEWS
BALANCED
VITAMINS
AND
MINERALS
THE IMPORTANCE OF
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
As caretakers of our horses, it is appealing to try any and everything possible to provide the best care
for our equine partners. Often this strategy finds horse owners administering a variety
of oral supplements to their horses. But is supplementation too much of a good thing? It is helpful to understand which basic vitamin and mineral nutrients are appropriate to supplement, and when less is actually more.
VITAMINS
Most roughage sources (hay or pasture) contain ample amounts of vitamins and minerals to supply an adult horse’s daily needs. There are many commercial vitamin-mineral
Vitamin D
Vitamin D toxicity leads to abnormal bone deposits in soft tissues, including the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. Calcium deposits may appear on the bones and around joints, leading to lameness. Daily requirements of vitamin D range around 3 IU per pound of body weight. A horse that is fed sun-cured feed or is outside for even a few hours a day will not develop a vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is typically present in sufficient quantities in green hay and fresh pasture as its precursor, beta-carotene. Hay that is aged and stored for a year or more or that has browned or yellowed in color may have declining quantities
Vitamin A toxicity has adverse effects on growth, the immune system, the reproductive tract, and on the eyes. Blending fresh, green hay with the
supplements available, but a consumer should be aware just what is being fed. Many vitamin supplements provide excess quantities of vitamin A and D as “fillers” because they are cheap for the manufacturer to add. But, if fed to excess, these can be toxic.
of vitamin A, necessitating supplementation
of 25,000 – 75,000 IU per day. Vitamin A toxicity has adverse effects on growth, the immune system, the reproductive tract, and on the eyes. Blending fresh, green hay with the older supply can offset vitamin A deficiencies.
older supply can offset vitamin A deficiencies.
96 SPEEDHORSE July 2023