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Equine Vitamin-Mineral Deficiency Chart

A clinical reference guide to vitamin and mineral deficiency symptoms in horses and livestock, from Dominion Veterinary Laboratories.

Equine Vitamin-Mineral Deficiency Chart — horse skeleton diagram showing deficiency symptoms by body region

Vitamin A

  • Ear: Lowered resistance to infections.
  • Eye: Xerophthalmia; night blindness; faulty vision; conjunctivitis.
  • Nose & Throat: Infections of mucous membranes.
  • Tongue: Inflammations; glossitis.
  • Teeth & Gums: Aids in utilization of calcium; defective dentin; inflammation of gums.
  • Blood Vessels: By lowering of blood serum esterase, may affect fat metabolism.
  • Nerves: Degeneration of nervous system; lack of co-ordination of legs; impairment of vision.
  • Heart: Edema; lowered resistance to infections.
  • Hoofs: Cracks, furrows, and abnormal growth.
  • Lungs: Lowered resistance to infections; haemorrhagic conditions.
  • Liver: Reduced capacity for storing vitamin A and converting carotene precursors.
  • Gastro-Intestinal System: Poor absorption of carotene precursors; poor gastric digestion.
  • Kidneys: Nephritis; calculi; predisposes to secondary infections.
  • Colon: Predisposition to oitis.
  • Urinary Bladder: Cystitis; calculi.
  • Sexual Organs — Male: Sterility; testicular degeneration (especially with concurrent Vitamin E deficiency).
  • Sexual Organs — Female: Sterility; weak or stillborn offspring; faulty lactation.
  • Muscle: Lack of muscular co-ordination.
  • Skin & Coat: Dermatitis; roughened coat.
  • Bones & Joints: Impaired calcium utilization; lameness; rarifying lesions in joint cartilages.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

  • Tongue: Glossitis; atrophy; edema.
  • Nerves: Nervousness; irritability; neuritis.
  • Blood Vessels: Capillary weakness; anemia.
  • Heart: Decreased B content of heart muscle; myocardial infections; hypertrophy.
  • Gastro-Intestinal System: Poor appetite; anorexia; faulty carbohydrate metabolism; inanition.
  • Colon: Stasis; faulty absorption.
  • Sexual Organs — Female: Termination of oestrus cycle; faulty ovulation.
  • Urinary Bladder: Incontinence due to nervous irritability.
  • Muscle: Muscular atrophy; degeneration and wasting of muscular fibre.
  • Skin & Coat: Dry, scaly skin.
  • Bones & Joints: Bone marrow degeneration.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

  • Eye: Keratitis; corneal ulcer; cataracts.
  • Tongue: Ulcerations; oedema.
  • Nerves: Nervous tissue involvement.
  • Teeth & Gums: Inflammation of gums.
  • Blood Vessels: Secondary anaemia.
  • Gastro-Intestinal System: Faulty carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Colon: Colitis; degenerative changes.
  • Skin & Coat: Dermatitis and skin lesions.

Vitamin D3

  • Nerves: Nervous irritability.
  • Teeth & Gums: Defective calcification; decay and dental caries.
  • Blood Vessels: Deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in blood.
  • Sexual Organs — Female: Affects reproduction and viability of offspring.
  • Muscle: Rickets; poor muscle co-ordination.
  • Bones & Joints: Poor calcium and phosphorus absorption; rickets; osteomalacia; osteoporosis; faulty bone structure.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

  • Nerves: Loss of nerve and muscular co-ordination.
  • Gastro-Intestinal System: Faulty metabolism.
  • Muscle: Loss of muscular control.
  • Skin & Coat: Skin lesions; roughened coat.

Vitamin E

  • Nerves: Lack of nerve and muscular co-ordination.
  • Sexual Organs — Male: Sterility; gonadal atrophy; impotence.
  • Sexual Organs — Female: Sterility; miscarriages; resorption of embryo; sexual frigidity.

Nicotinic Acid & Other B Complex Factors

  • Tongue: Pellagra-like syndrome.
  • Blood Vessels: Anemia.
  • Gastro-Intestinal System: Anorexia; digestive disturbances; poor assimilation.
  • Skin & Coat: Skin lesions; loss of hair.

Calcium (Bone-Building Element)

Essential for building normal bones and teeth.

  • Important in heart, nerve, and muscle functions.
  • Essential element in blood and enzyme activation.
  • Essential for lactation and reproduction.
  • Ca:P ratio critical — high phosphorus relative to calcium may cause osteodystrophia fibrosa. Satisfactory ratio: Ca:P = 1.0–0.8.

Phosphorus (Bone-Building Element)

Essential for building sound bones and teeth.

  • Essential to metabolism of carbohydrates and fats; enzyme activation.
  • Important in enzyme activity of vitamins B1 and B2.
  • Acts as a buffer in blood and muscle tissue.
  • May be deficient in roughage feed in certain regions.

Sodium and Potassium (Cell and Body Fluid Regulating Elements)

Regulate osmotic pressure in cellular tissue and body fluids.

  • Aid in buffer action of blood and ion balance.
  • Potassium aids in regulating muscle function.
  • Sodium protects against excessive dehydration.
  • Herbivorous animals typically require supplemental salt (sodium chloride) in their diets.

Iron (Blood-Building Element)

Essential in formation of haemoglobin, oxygen transfer, and cell respiration.

  • Aids in blood cell development and prevention of nutritional anaemia.

Copper (Bio-Catalytic Element)

Works with iron in haemoglobin formation as a biological catalyst.

  • Aids in tissue respiration and prevention of certain types of nutritional anaemia.

Magnesium (Muscle and Bone Building Element)

Essential for normal growth of animals.

  • Essential for nerve and muscle activity, and bone structure.
  • Acts as a coenzyme in phosphorus metabolism.

Manganese (Essential Trace Element)

  • Essential for normal growth and proper functioning of lactation and reproduction.

Cobalt (Essential Trace Element)

  • Deficiency may result in loss of red blood cells, emaciation, and general rundown condition.

Zinc (Essential Trace Element)

Aids in normal growth and tissue respiration.

  • Interrelated with insulin and vitamin B1 deficiencies in certain animal species.
  • May play a role in development of a normal coat of hair.

Iodine (Essential Trace Element)

Essential in the growth and functions of the thyroid gland and formation of thyroxine.