Vitamin K3-induced renal toxicosis in the horse

Renal toxicosis attributable to vitamin K3 (menadione sodium bisulfite) was suspected in 5 young adult horses in which acute renal failure developed following parenteral administration of vitamin K3 at the manufacturers' recommended dosages. Renal disease was subsequently induced experimentally in 5 of 6 horses by administration of vitamin K3 at manufacturers' recommended dosages. Signs of renal disease in the clinical patients as well as in the horses treated experimentally included renal colic, hematuria, azotemia, and electrolyte abnormalities consistent with acute renal failure. Two clinical patients and 3 experimental horses were subsequently necropsied and found to have lesions of renal tubular nephrosis.