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Choosing the Right Vitamin Supplement for Your Horse

Written by nicayla on

From: shanestack.com

Horses require a smaller amount of daily vitamins in comparison to what humans need in a daily diet, so it is important to choose a vitamin supplement that provides them with the essential nutrients that are needed for good health. The requirement amount of vitamins required may vary depending on the size, age, and function of your horse. There are a variety of great supplements, such as Vita Flex Accel, made to improve the help the overall health of your horse. Look for a vitamin supplement that contains the following vitamins: Vitamin A, the Vitamin B group, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Folic Acid.

Vitamin A is essential for a variety of bodily functions including: vision, skin cell growth, bone development and reproduction. If your horse is lacking in Vitamin A, cell growth is slowed down and your horse may have decreased immunity to infections. A diet low in carotene may be the cause to a deficiency in Vitamin A, so a vitamin supplement is essential for preventing a variety of problems in young and adult horses.

In regard to the Vitamin B group, which includes Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B12, most horse get their daily requirement from grazing in the pasture, eating good hay, or manufacturing the vitamin in the colon. If you notice that your horse does not have a good energy metabolism, vision problems or problems utilizing the feed in the body, then choose a supplement with the Vitamin B group.

Vitamin C, which is ascorbic acid, is essential for a variety body functions including collagen production and preventing infections. Typically horses are able to produce this important vitamin in the liver. However, if your horse is suffering from viral infections, provide your horse with a Vitamin C supplement.

Vitamin D is used to regulate your horse’s blood calcium and a lack of Vitamin D can cause rickets in young horses, whose bones are not fully developed. If your horse is not getting enough Vitamin D from the hay, you may want to choose a supplement that contains this vitamin.

Vitamin E helps to stabilize cell walls and helps reproductive and muscular problems. If your horse is susceptible to azoturia or needs a performance boost and is not getting enough from eating cereal, green forage, or hay, then use a supplement with Vitamin E.

Vitamin K helps the blood to clot and is typically digested when your horse eats green forage and hay. This vitamin is beneficial in stopping exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. A supplement is only recommended when there is a deficiency in the diet.

Folic Acid is essential for producing red blood cells. Even though this vitamin is typically ingested when your horse grazes or eats legume hay, it is harder for the body to absorb and a vitamin supplement is recommended.

Before you choose a vitamin supplement, always make sure that it is appropriate for your horse. Check the dosage amount required for your horse before adding it to your horse’s feed.

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