Horses need an optimal vitamin E level in their blood to function properly. A vitamin E deficiency can lead to poor performance, weakness, myopathy, and even ataxia in your horse. In severe cases, a vitamin E deficiency can even lead to serious health problems, resulting in fatal neurological diseases such as Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND).
What is vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It protects the body against oxidation and free radicals that damage cells. Vitamin E keeps organs and tissues healthy, young, and strong. It slows down tissue degeneration, keeping you younger and fitter. It optimizes cardiovascular and neuromuscular activity and is therefore of great importance for sport horses.
Fresh green grass is the best source of vitamin E. Therefore, a vitamin E deficiency is rare in summer for horses that graze all day. However, more and more horses do not have the opportunity to graze sufficiently (sport horses, but also recreational horses that are stabled a lot or only have access to a paddock). In these horses, we also see severe vitamin E deficiencies even in summer.
Every horse owner should be aware that hay is poor in vitamin E. As soon as grass is cut and dried, the vitamin E content decreases by more than 85%. Therefore, we see even more vitamin E deficiencies in our horses in winter.
Risks associated with vitamin E deficiency
Vitamin E promotes optimal muscle and nerve function in horses, and a deficiency can lead to three potentially fatal diseases:
- Equine Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (ENAD)
- Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND)
- Vitamin E Deficient Myopathy (VEM)
Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy (ENAD) is a disease that primarily affects young horses. Scientists discovered that these horses have a genetic predisposition which, in combination with a vitamin E deficiency, results in a clinical manifestation of the disease.
Symptoms of this condition range from mild performance issues to severe ataxia.
Equine motor neuron disease (EMND) is most common in older horses with a vitamin E deficiency of more than 18 months. Horses suffering from this disease show clinical signs of weakness, muscle tremors, sweating, and weight loss. They often hold their heads lower and lie down abnormally often. They lose a lot of weight despite a good appetite. The cause is a lack of vitamin E, and the prognosis is poor if the disease is not detected at an early stage.
Vitamin E Deficient Myopathy (VEM) is a disease that causes muscle weakness due to muscle damage (myopathy). A too low vitamin E concentration in the body is the only cause of this muscle disorder. Immediate administration of vitamin E usually results in complete recovery within three months.
Prevention is of great importance
Horses that do not have very regular access to pasture have a greatly increased risk of developing a vitamin E deficiency. For these horses, it is recommended to add a suitable vitamin E source to their daily ration.
If the horse already shows any of the symptoms described above, contact your veterinarian immediately for a blood test and a clinical examination.
What is the best source of vitamin E for horses?
It is not easy, even impossible, for a horse owner to decide which vitamin E source to use, in what dose, and for what period. Do not hesitate to contact our nutritionists for specialized advice.
