Horses obtain vitamin E, an essential nutrient for neuromuscular health, through green pasture. Vitamin E dietary deficiencies can lead to neuromuscular diseases such as equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, equine motor neuron disease and vitamin E deficient myopathy. Some horses are genetically susceptible to developing these neuromuscular diseases, but not all horses that are vitamin E deficient exhibit clinical signs. Vitamin E supplementation is effective at slowing or halting clinical signs of some of these diseases, but the neuromuscular damage is usually irreversible, except in the case of vitamin E deficient myopathy. Adequate access to vitamin E early in life is essential to preventing these conditions.

Amy Young -

Carrie J Finno -