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Hyperostotic polyarthropathy in a rabbit ‐ a suspected case of chronic hypervitaminosis A from a diet of carrots
Author(s) -
FRATER JL
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2001.tb10777.x
Subject(s) - hypervitaminosis a , retinol , hypervitaminosis , ingestion , vitamin , beta carotene , physiology , medicine , biology , endocrinology
Chronic hypervitaminosis A can occur in many species after excessive dietary intake of Vitamin A (retinol). The most common presentation of chronic hypervitaminosis A is a polyarthropathy with hyperostosis and ankylosis of various joints. This case report describes a probable case of naturally occurring hypervitaminosis A‐induced polyarthropathy in a rabbit after chronic ingestion of a diet made up almost exclusively of carrots. Carrots do not contain retinol, but are rich in provitamin A (or beta‐carotene). Rabbits are unique in that they can convert 100% of dietary beta‐carotene into retinol. A syndrome of naturally occurring hypervitaminosis A‐induced polyarthropathy has not been described in a rabbit before.