Effect of oral administration of excessive iron in adult ponies

Abstract

Histologic lesions were not seen in the hepatic biopsy specimens obtained from the ponies treated with ferrous sulfate. It was concluded that it would be unlikely for iron toxicosis to develop in adult ponies or horses during a period of < 8 weeks when food or water contained increased amounts of iron. It is suspected that previous reports of hepatopathies in animals with hemosiderin accumulation may represent a primary hepatopathy with secondary hemosiderin accumulation, especially if the only source of iron is via oral consumption.