Horse Facts-Clinical signs due to equine nutritional imbalances
Changes in the horse’s appearance, behaviour, or productivity (performance, growth, milk production, reproductive efficiency etc) often provide the first indication that something is wrong with the diet. Unfortunately, these changes are usually fairly non-specific. In some cases, however, particularly as the nutrient imbalance becomes more severe and prolonged, there may be more specific signs that may help identify the problem.
Most nutrients are involved in many functions and organs and these functions and organs are affected by a deficiency and excess of a number of different nutrients as well as numerous non-nutritional factors. For example, while deficiencies of calcium, phosphorus or Vitamin D may produce bone abnormalities, inadequate intakes of copper, manganese, zinc, and Vitamin A may also result in skeletal defects. Skeletal problems may also result from excess molybdenum, fluorine, vitamin A or vitamin D.
Clinical signs characteristic of nutrient deficiencies and excesses are shown in the below table.
| Clinical sign | Nutrient deficiency causes | Nutrient excess causes |
|---|---|---|
| Decreased feed intake | Water, Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium, Zinc, Vitamins A, D and B1 | Fluoride and Vitamins A and D |
| Decreased weight, growth, production and/or performance ability | Energy, Protein, Calcium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc, Vitamins A, D, E, and B1 | Fibre, Zinc, Fluoride, Vitamins A and D |
| Poor hair coat and/or hair loss | Protein, Phosphorus, Iodine, Zinc, Vitamins A and E | Selenium, Iodine, Vitamin A |
| Weakness, lethargy, fatigue, listlessness | Potassium, Selenium, vitamin A | Selenium, Vitamins A and K |
| Ataxia, wobblers and/or posterior weakness | Magnesium, Vitamins B1 and E | Sodium, Selenium & Vitamin A |
| Blindness | Vitamin A (blindness at night) | Selenium |
| Lameness | Calcium, Phosphorus | Selenium, Fluoride |
| Stiff Movement | Selenium, Vitamins E and B1 | Selenium, Fluoride, Vitamin D |
| Hoof defects or slow hoof growth | Protein, Biotin & Zinc | Selenium or grain-induced laminitis |
| DOD | Protein, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iodine, Copper, Zinc | Energy |
| Diarrhoea | Fibre, Selenium | Grain, Sodium, Selenium |
| Constipation | Sodium | |
| Colic | Fibre, hypomagnesemia | Grain and Vitamin K |
| Dehydration | Water and Sodium | |
| Excess licking | Sodium, Potassium & Chloride | |
| Pica | Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Phosphores & Protein | |
| Polyuria (increased urination and volume of urine) | Sodium, Vitamins D and K | |
| Hematuria (blood in urine) | Vitamin K | |
| Haemorrhaging | Vitamin K | |
| Muscle Tremours | Hypomagnesemia & Vitamin B1 | |
| Convulsions/seizures | Hypermagnesemia & Vitamin A | Vitamin D |
| Impaired immunity | Selenium & Vitamin A | Iron |
| Dyspnea (laboured breathing), increased respiratory and/or heart rate | Selenium | Vitamin D |
| Aneamia | Vitamin A | Vitamin A, Selenium & Zinc |
| Nursing difficulty | Selenium | |
| Subcutaneous swelling and/or oedema | Vitamin E | |
| Excess lacrimation (shedding of tears) | Vitamin A | |
| Teeth mottled/pitted | Fluoride | |
Evaluation and formulation of a diet is the earliest, most diagnostic and the best and in some cases the only way to diagnose and correct many nutrient imbalances. Ranvet offers a wide variety of multivitamins, mineral and protein supplements that can help prevent nutritional imbalances, these include:
Aminovite Plus- Powdered Multivitamin
Ration Balancer- Pelleted Multivitamin
Folactin Blue- Mineral Supplement for Stables Horses and horses on High Grain Diets
Folactin Red- Mineral Supplement for Paddocked Horses
Folactin Red Plus- Mineral Supplement for Growing & Breeding Horses
Power Formula- Protein and Mineral Supplement for Racehorses
Ranvet 500- Protein and Mineral Supplement for Growing & Breeding Horses
Topline FX- Protein and Mineral Supplement for Performance Horses
Experts in Equine Nutrition
Every product in the Ranvet range has been developed to meet a horse’s most specific need at any given time, be it in a training environment or on a breeding farm. Having pioneered the formulation of specific medications and dietary supplements for horses, the company is now recognised as a leader in the areas of equine health and nutrition.
