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Discussion on Testing for Selenium levels
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Posted on Monday, Nov 8, 1999 - 9:56 am:
DrO
Am I understanding correctly that a blood test will tell you if a horse's selenium level is low, but not if it is high? If a horse tests low, then is put on Vit E / Sel supplement, how would you know if you are giving the correct amount? Is it based just on the total amount ingested, not on the level in the body? Here in Virginia, the soil is deficient in selenium and some horses seem to need supplementation. I had two horses tie-up and all three tested low in selenium, so all were put on supplement. Testing was done periodically and the dose was raised until the levels were normal. How can you be sure that the amount given long term isn't too much?
Kathleen
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 9, 1999 - 6:24 am:
Hello Kathleen,
Virginia does run variable to low in Selenium with the east and west edges of the state dependably low. Testing the blood for selenium levels generally can reveal deficiencies and acute toxicity, it is chronic poisoning that is difficult to detect this way.
As always the best way to determine whether or not a horse is getting adequate amounts of a nutrient is to test the feed. In some cases this is impractical, particularly when feedstuffs are often changing. An easy and relatively safe way of adding selenium to the diet would be to add
1/2 oz (that is the weight oz not the volume) of a 90 mg/kg (ppm) selenium supplemented salt to the grain portion of the diet daily. These are generally available in areas like yours for sheep and cattle. Be sure there are only salts and minerals in the supplement. Measure carefully but it would require a lb / day to be toxic IF it is the only source of Se.
DrO
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