1. Hypervitaminosis
The result of toxic levels
of vitamins on the
system

2. Vitamin A
 Beta-carotene & retinol
 Beta-carotene sources: carrots, dandelion greens,
broccoli, kale spinach, turnips, apricots, melon,
sweet potato
 Retinol sources: fish liver oils, diary, egg yolks, liver
 Function:
– Maintains healthy coat & skin
– Promotes bone growth
– Protects against infection
– Aids in treatment of eye disorders

3. Hypervitaminosis A
 Highest occurence in cats fed mostly on liver
 Produces bone hypertrophy (bone growths)
and ankylosing spondylosis (bone fusion) of
cervical vertebrae
 Also effects foetal brain and eye
development

4. Symptoms in cats
 Kangaroo sitting
 Inability to move head or neck
 Pain
 Forelimb lameness

5. Diagnosis and Treatment
 Diagnosis by radiography
 Prognosis guarded to poor
 Cessation of vitamin intake may halt
progression, but will not reduce spondylosis

6. Signs in other animals
Chicks Pigs
Loss of appetite Rough coat
Poor growth Scaly skin
Diarrhoea Hyper-irritability
Encrustation around mouth Haemorrhages over limbs
Reddening of eyelids and abdomen
Periodic tremors
Death

7. B Vitamins
 B-1 – Thiamine
 Source: beef liver, kidneys, whole grains,
bran oatmeal, salmon, wheat germ, peanuts
& kidney beans
 Function
– Formation of cocarboxylase enzyme involved in
decarboxylation (citric acid cycle)
– Maintains normal function of nervous system
– Improves brain power

8. Hypervitaminosis B-1
 B-1 symptom – curare like i.e. paralysis
– Blocks nerve transmission
– Restlessness, convulsions and labored
respiration
– Death results from respiratory paralysis and
cardiac failure

9. B Vitamins
 B-2 – Riboflavin
 Source: cottage cheese, cheese, wheat
germ, kidney, fish & chicken
 Function
– Flavoproteins in oxidative phosphorylation
– Maintains healthy mucous membranes
– Promotes growth
– Contributes to vision

10. Hypervitaminosis B-2
 B-2 symptom - Bright yellow urine
– Itching
– Numbness
– Burning or prickling sensations
– Sensitivity to light

11. B Vitamins
 B-3 – Niacin
 Source: beef liver, white chicken meat,
peanuts, salmon, tuna, turkey, whole grains
& milk
 Function
– Coenzyme in hydrogen transport
– Maintains muscle tone, healthy skin & coat
– Converts food to energy
– Prevents seizures (in some cases)

12. Hypervitaminosis B-3
 B-3 symptom – low blood pressure and
lightheadedness
– Liver damage
– Peptic ulcers
– Skin rashes

13. B Vitamins
 B-5 – Pantothenic Acid
 Source: eggs, wheat germ, lentils, liver,
brewers yeast, peas & whole grains
 Function
– Constituent of coenzyme A (CoA)
– Improves longevity
– Aids in wound healing
– Protects against stress & infection

14. Hypervitaminosis B-5
 B-5
– symptom
– diarrhea

15. B Vitamins
 B-6 – Pyridoxine
 Source: bananas, bran, brewers yeast,
carrots, salmon, tuna, wheat germ, lentils,
whole grain cereals
 Function
– Coenzyme for amino & fatty acid metabolism
– Promotes red-blood cell formation
– Maintains strong immune system
– Contributes to healthy nervous system

16. Hypervitaminosis B-6
 B-6 – symptom – neurological disorders
– Nerve damage in limbs
– Effects balance & co-ordination
– Decrease sensation to touch and temperature

17. B Vitamins
 B-12 – Cyanocobalamin - produced by intestinal
bacteria
 Source: sardines, herring, milk products, eggs, organ
meats (liver, kidney, brain) & beef
 Function
– Nucleoprotein synthesis
– Formation of erythrocytes (red blood cells)
– Used to treat anaemia
– Promotes normal growth
– Stimulates weight gain in puppies

18. Hypervitaminosis B-12
 B-12
– reduction in size of vascular controlled reflexes

19. B Vitamins
 Biotin – A B vitamin also known as Vitamin H
 Source: brown rice, diary products, egg yolk,
chicken, liver, tomatoes, lentils & oats
 Function
– Protein & Fatty acid synthesis
– Prevents skin problems
– Facilitates metabolism of amino acids &
carbohydrates
– Promotes health of nerve cells

20. Hypervitaminosis Biotin
 Biotin
– Scurfy skin, due to hyperkeratosis of the
superficial follicular epithelia

21. Vitamin C
 Ascorbic Acid
 Source: oranges, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, kiwi,
rose hips, strawberries (most fruit & veg)
 Function
– Essential for formation of collagen
– Promotes tissue & wound healing
– Can detoxify blood
– Can reduce pain of arthritis

22. Hypervitaminosis C
 may acidify the urine,
 cause nausea and diarrhoea,
 interferes with the healthy antioxidant-
prooxidant balance in the body
 in patients with thalassemia or
haemochromatosis, promote iron overload

23. Vitamin D
 Cholecalciferol
 Sources: sun exposure, salmon, sardines,
cod-liver oil, herring & mackerel
 Function:
– Used by Osteoclasts in bone for demineralization

24. Hypervitaminosis D
 Causes high levels of calcium and
phosphorus in blood, arteries and organs
 Via re-absorption of bone and deposits of
calcium in soft tissue
– i.e. calcification in ox heart dissected in class

25. Bone
 We constantly renew bone
 Calcium and phosphate in blood plasma help
to make bone
 Vitamins A & D also aid parathyroid hormone
in bone demineralization
 High levels of Vitamin D may produce bone
re-absorption without parathyroid hormone

26. Vitamin E
 Alpha-tocopherol (antioxidant)
 Source: wheat germ, whole wheat floor, margarine,
corn oil, peanut oil & eggs
 Function
– Anti-blood clotting agent
– Promotes muscle growth & repair
– Improves immune system
– Promotes healing of skin problems
– Improves heart & circulatory system

27. Hypervitaminosis E
 Vitamin E inhibits vitamin K and therefore
reduces platelet production
 Increased bleeding
 Impaired immune system – causing
necrotizing enterocolitis
 Diarrhoea and intestinal cramps
 include fatigue, muscle weakness, delayed
wound healing, and headaches

28. Vitamin K
 Phytonadione - produced by intestinal
bacteria
 Source: alfalfa, cheddar cheese, oats,
spinach & brussel sprouts
 Function
– Prevents abnormal bleeding
– Used by the liver to make blood platelets
 Used to treat dogs poisoned by warfarin

29. Hypervitaminosis K
 Causes excess clotting of the blood
– leading to thrombosis and potential sudden death
should clots form in brain or heart

30. Folic Acid
 Folacin, pteroylglutamic acid
 Sources: Meats
 Function
– Nucleoprotein synthesis
– Formation of erythrocytes (red blood cells)

31. Hypervitaminosis Folic Acid
– Inhibition of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase
– Stomach problems
– Sleep problems
– Skin reactions

32. Storage
 Vitamins C, B & A (beta-carotene) are water soluble
and quickly eliminated from the body
 Vitamins A (retinol), D & E are fat soluble and
become concentrated in the liver
 Vitamin K is also fat soluble
 N.B. up to 20 times the RDA of vitamins & minerals
have been found in commercial pet food