Just wondered if anyone here has tested their horses vitamin E, or even monitored it over time?
If it was low, did your horse have any physical symptoms?
My horse has had low levels for a few years now, not stupidly low, but 1.5ug/ml when normal is more than 2ug/ml. I’m wondering if this is enough to cause weakness in the hind quarters, toe drag and lacking push from behind?
Yes, I test yearly, and every horse is on a supplement. One seems to have a particular issue, and I have to keep him on a much higher amount of the supplement than the others or he tests low.
I find it easier to just supplement. Unless they’re on good grazing, they’re getting vit e.
What sort of numbers are you getting?
Yes I tested and then supplemented. Horse was lethargic and we did a blood panel and when the Vitamin E Level came back low we added a supplement. Solved the lethargy.
One horse was around 1. Others were 1.5-2. Now the problem horse comes in around 2, and the others come in around 3.
We test twice a year. Winter and summer so we know how much vit e they are getting or not from the grass.
Normal range is 2-10 for our tests. Most regional to NJ are coming in around 2 without supplementation, with a few that randomly are around 8.
The low horses are all on 5,000 to 10,000 IU daily. Can take a year or two to start those numbers getting into mid range.
Most of ours are in moderate to heavy workload (dressage) so we like their numbers to be slightly on the higher end of the normal range usually around 8.
Symptoms I have seen: lethargy, Spooky, Muscle soreness/tightness, muscle wastage, onset of early Neuro symptoms (like excessive tripping/ lack of coordination).
To find a product that worked we took the horse with one of the worst numbers and very slow rise and starting testing him every 6 weeks for almost a year. Every six weeks we switched out the type of vit e and his numbers either went up or down. The one he went up with the most is the one we use unless a horse is testing with low numbers. In which case we assume an absorption issue and find another product.
Editing to add that the limiting amino acids lysine, methionine and threonine need to be present in the diet or they will inhibit the level of absorption.
All your answers are really helpful, thanks very much.
I’ve had my now-26 year old gelding on natural Vitamin E with selenium for years because he is pasture-boarded on free choice hay. Selenium levels are very low in this area, I added grain several years ago for balanced nutrition but assumed his selenium level was okay. When I had his blood work done it was actually right at the top of the range. Selenium toxicity is a problem so you have to be careful. I use HorseTech.com’s supplements so I called Rod, the owner. He checked the local selenium level online. He converted the amounts in the grain and supplement.to the same unit of measurement. The selenium in the grain was enough so I switched to straight natural vitamin E.
Equus magazine has published a couple of good articles on vitamin E. They should be available on their website.
HorseTech is who I use too. They are beyond wonderful to deal with.
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