The clinical presentation of selenium deficiency includes , muscle weakness, muscle cramping and oxidative damage to tissues that have a high metabolic rate. Vitamin E needs selenium to become active.
Diagnosis is made through serology and treatment includes the supplementation of selenium.
Cobalt Deficiency
Cobalt deficiency is in apparent in horses, though the supplementation of cobalt salts has been shown to increase erythrocyte function and .
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is seen in horses feed poor quality hay exclusively.
The clinical presentation of vitamin A deficiency includes , lacrimation, keratinisation of the cornea, impaired fertility, polyphagia, progressive weakness, brittle and deformed body hair and skeletal deformity. Diagnosis is made through serology and treatment includes the supplementation of alpha- carotene, beta-carotene and gamma-carotene, the functional forms of vitamin A in herbivores and the feeding of high-quality forage.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is seen primarily in young horses fed low forage diets, especially if the small amounts of available forage are old and dried & are confined to environments such as stalls without windows. The clinical presentation of vitamin d deficiency includes decreased mineralization of bone, swollen joints, stiffness, irritability, hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia. Diagnosis is made through serology showing depressed levels of circulating calcidol and treatment includes the supplementation of vitamin D and the feeding of high quality, green forage.
Thiamine Deficiency
Thiamine is a B vitamin. Thiamine deficiency is a common complication of
,
poisoning.
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