vitamin e question

[kbdb32]

so in may this year my mare was diagnosed and treated for EPM and since then she has been supplemented with ultracruz natural vitamin e and gets 8,000IU a day.

some people at my barn, including BO, have wondered if im over supplementing her and they got me thinking.

how long does a horse really need to receive vitamin e? ive heard that EPM horses should be on it for the rest of their lives to help prevent relapse. is that true? would cutting her portion in half make a difference (8,000 to 4,000 IU)?

shes doing great on the vitamin e right now and is happy and healthy. she still stands funny on one hind leg but the vet is sure that it is just left over damage from the EPM and with time it could heal and disappear completely (she isn’t lame or affected by it). which is also why I like having her on the vit e so that she has the correct vitamins and minerals to allow her body to heal

[Dune]

Ask your vet, maybe he’ll wish to take a blood sample. Ignore the idiots at your barn lol.

[poltroon]

Take the blood sample if you’re concerned. If the horse is doing well and healthy, then the supplement is the right amount.

I am supplementing an older horse with Vitamin E after non-EPM neurological symptoms surfaced, and it cleared the problem up. We’ve tested his blood level since and it’s just right.

[dungrulla]

I bought vitamin E caplets (the d isomer) from the drugstore and have been putting them in horsey’s food. Research suggests this works just as well as a liquid supplement and costs 10x less. Horses cannot overdose on e, if that concerns you, though other species can.

[psb]

Check with your vet. Horses that eat hay more than fresh pasture may need a higher amount.

[JB]

@kbdb32;8275422

so in may this year my mare was diagnosed and treated for EPM and since then she has been supplemented with ultracruz natural vitamin e and gets 8,000IU a day.

some people at my barn, including BO, have wondered if im over supplementing her and they got me thinking.

Glad it’s at least making you think

However, “some people” and “BO” are not vets. They clearly do not understand the challenges of an EPM horse, which includes the need for high, therapeutic doses of E

how long does a horse really need to receive vitamin e? ive heard that EPM horses should be on it for the rest of their lives to help prevent relapse. is that true? would cutting her portion in half make a difference (8,000 to 4,000 IU)?

shes doing great on the vitamin e right now and is happy and healthy. she still stands funny on one hind leg but the vet is sure that it is just left over damage from the EPM and with time it could heal and disappear completely (she isn’t lame or affected by it). which is also why I like having her on the vit e so that she has the correct vitamins and minerals to allow her body to heal

Lack of 8,000IU E/day or even 2000 IU isn’t what makes these horses relapse. Relapses are still due to the protozoa, and previously affected horses are just more susceptible to subsequent infections.

Your vet should be telling you how and when to decrease the dosage.

I would keep him permanently on 2000IU/day, unless maybe he’s eating good grass 20 hours a day, every day

[TheJenners]

Can’t overdose unlike some vit/min, so unless you’re worried about your pocket book then I’d keep him on it. And Ultracruz is very reasonable price-wise if you order from their Web site. I have my horse on it because he is probably metabolic. Prevention is key.

[Laurierace]

I think you are using too little, not too much. I would up it to at least 10,000IU.

[JB]

10000IU is the therapeutic dose while being treated, for sure. It’s not a dose they should stay on though. I can’t tell from the OP if E was giving during treatment, or only started after.

[kbdb32]

i think im actually going to bump her down to 4,000 IU a day now and keep her on that.

JB, ive only been given her the e after the treatment.

and this is going to make me sound bad but im going to be honest and admit that i havent discussed the vitamin e with my vet. hes a fabulous vet and took excellent care of my horse but i just havent established a good relationship yet and havent got around to asking him about it. i started using him when she was lame (caused by epm) and so i havent been using him for very long or for regular veterinary maintenence stuff.

[JB]

Your vet should have been the one to discuss the Vit E with you That’s been standard for EPM treatment for quite a while.