Veterinary Uses of Vitamin K

• Antidote for Accidental Poisoning

Animals need vitamin K for blood coagulation just like people do. In fact, research shows that vitamin K can be to treat cats that have diseases linked to abnormal bleeding. These conditions include:⁽¹²⁰⁾

• Liver disease
• Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Enteritis
• Severe inflammatory bowel disease

In one study, vitamin K therapy normalized clotting times in 21 out of 24 cats suffering from IBD, liver disease, or other disorders.⁽¹²⁰⁾

Experts caution that oral doses of vitamin K1 may not be the best form of vitamin K for animals suffering from malabsorption of nutrients. That's because it's a fat-soluble vitamin, and the condition itself may prevent it from being absorbed. Vitamin K shots can help in these cases. Another option is vitamin K3, which is less fat-soluble and easier for the colon to absorb.⁽¹²¹⁾

But did you know vitamin K can also be used to treat poisoning?

Rodenticide Poisoning

Pets, farm animals, and even wild birds are can be exposed to rodent poison through several routes:⁽¹²²⁾

• Eating it (since it's sweet and odorless).
• Eating rodents poisoned with the rodenticides (dead or alive).
• Drinking tainted drinking water.
• Skin contact.

Vitamin K is a specific antidote given to dogs, cats, exotic animals, and birds.⁽¹²²⁾

Clinical experience and studies show it is highly successful. For example:

• In a study, vitamin K normalized bleeding in dogs poisoned with brodifacoum - a chemical used to kill rodents.⁽¹²³⁾
• Vitamin K therapy and supportive care was used to treat 21 dogs poisoned with anticoagulant rodenticides, with a survival rate of 83%.⁽¹²⁴⁾