Someone in one of my FB groups is asking about BoneKare, a K1 supplement for horses to help repair bone as well as build up bone density (website claims with a guarantee). The example given was P3 bone loss and fractured P3. 

My "gimmick" flags are going haywire, although the website claims veterinarians use it and recommend it, and podiatrist Dr. Taylor really likes it (or so her previous vet tech says). 

Calcium: 3.6%-4.6%
Phosphorus: 2.7% (minimum)
Vitamin D3, minimum 172mg/lb
Vitamin K1, minimum 54mg/lb
Serving size 25-50g depending on age. 

Is there any reason this should repair bone? Someone mentioned vitamin K being used in human osteoporosis cases. 

 

These are all  nutrients involved in the maintenance and formation of bone, but like all  nutrient supplements they will only have an effect if the horse is deficient and they correct the deficiency.  At the higher dose and average calcium concentration it only supplies 2 grams of calcium compared to 12 g in a serving of U Balance Foundation and the 20 maintenance requirement of an adult 500 kg horse. The vitamin K1 is 5.5 mg/serving vs 40 mg in UBF; point being you can do a lot better with a high quality vitamin and mineral supplement.

More to the point, vitamin D and K deficiencies have never been found in a horse. The claim on the web site that cutting and drying hay destroys vitamin K is false. For example, dried herbs have more vitamin K than in their fresh state https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157515000381 .
--
Dr. K