How does vitamin K deficiency affect horses?

Vitamin K is essential for synthesizing blood clotting factors. Deficiency, though rare due to dietary intake and intestinal bacteria production, increases blood clotting time. Newborns and individuals with impaired bile production or those on certain medications are more susceptible. Supplementation can prevent bleeding in deficient individuals.

How Does Vitamin K Deficiency Affect Horses?

While the provided search result focuses on vitamin K deficiency in humans, it does not contain specific information about horses. Therefore, I cannot directly answer how vitamin K deficiency affects horses using this source.

What is Vitamin K?

Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble compounds known as naphthoquinones. Plants synthesize phylloquinone (vitamin K1), while bacteria, including those in mammalian intestines, produce menaquinone (vitamin K2). Additionally, menadione (vitamin K3) is a synthetic precursor used in supplements.

What Causes Vitamin K Deficiency?

Vitamin K deficiency is uncommon in higher animals because it is typically obtained through diet and synthesized by intestinal bacteria. In humans, it can result from taking medications that inhibit vitamin-synthesizing bacteria or from conditions affecting bile production or flow, which is needed for intestinal absorption of vitamin K. Newborn infants may experience deficiency due to the absence of intestinal bacteria, low levels of vitamin K in breast milk, or a lack of body stores.

What are the Symptoms of Vitamin K Deficiency?

Vitamin K deficiency primarily leads to an increased blood clotting time. In newborns, this can manifest as bleeding, which can be prevented by administering vitamin K shortly after birth.

How is Vitamin K Deficiency Treated?

The provided document mentions that vitamin K deficiency can be prevented by administering vitamin K to infants shortly after birth to prevent bleeding. It also mentions that vitamin K3 is used as a supplement.

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