Question

I have a four-year-old Standardbred gelding with suspected low-grade wobbler syndrome (based on clinical signs; no x-rays or further testing has yet been done). He is steady on his feet but will stand with them abnormally placed, and he trips a lot. I came across reports of vitamin E supplementation helping wobblers by minimizing oxidative damage to the spinal cord. Do you have any thoughts on whether this could be beneficial? He is a companion horse, so I am just looking to improve his quality of life, not make him stable enough to be ridden.

Answer

Therapeutic levels of vitamin E (3,000 – 5,000 IU per day) may be helpful in minimizing oxidative damage to the spinal cord. Using a natural form of vitamin E will ensure the best possibility for absorption and utilization of the vitamin. One of the best natural-source vitamin E products on the market is Nano-E, which features unique encapsulation and nanodispersion qualities for superior bioavailability.

Adding vitamin E does not negate the need for a well-balanced diet for this horse. In his circumstances, I would recommended feeding a ration balancer to supply the essential nutrients in addition to his hay and/or grass to keep him from gaining excessive weight, which would be detrimental to his delicate state. A balancer pellet is ideal for horses that are not working and have lower energy requirements than their working counterparts because it is mostly protein, vitamins, and minerals without extra calories.