VitaPlus Supplements Side Effects

[Laya]

I have recently started supplementing my two horses (7 y.o. Quarter Horse gelding and a 4 y.o. Arabian filly) with Farnam's Vita Plus Equine Feed Supplements. They just finished their first bucket, which lasted both of them 3-4 weeks. Since I first started feeding these supplements, I have seen remarkable improvements in their coat and over-all health. However, my docile, pliable QH gelding has recently become irascible (biting, pinning his ears, kicking, being downright grouchy). Just yesterday, I was brushing him down in his stall where he was standing, and for no reason, he reached around and took a nasty bite out of my thigh. This is not my horse's normal behvaior (I have owned him his entire life), and I was thinking it might be a result of the supplements he was receiving? I have had the vet check him and he is otherwise sound. Could this be a side effect of Vita Plus - or could it be a maturing personality change with his age? Any feedback would be great! Thanks!

• Supplement meets the demands of today's equine athletes, show horses, breeding stock and young, growing horses
  Contains virtually every beneficial nutritional ingredient an equine supplement can provide to improve a horse's condition and performance
  Contains polyunsaturates for skin and hair condition, plus a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals
  3 lb, 7 lb, 20 lb and 100 lb

 

[Tootsie4U]

I used that stuff the first year I had my boy. His behavior was erratic during that time anyway, so it would be hard for me to expand on that part of your question. I can tell you that his behavior was strictly related to training issues rather than diet.

What I can tell you though is that Vita Plus has all the right ingredients (vitamins & minerals) but in LOW doses. For example, the calcium / phosphorus ratio is there, but on a low scale. If you read anything done analytically on it, most research recommends feeding double the dosage to get the "correct" levels. Or at least, thats what I found.

In that, I doubt his recent behavior change is relative to the supplement ~ more likely the change in weather or something you may not even be aware of yet But, changing diets should be something monitored no matter what. Have you asked your vet specifically about the supplement?

 

[entreat]

maybe take him off it for 4 weeks, see if he returns to normal.