Selenium Deficiency
We all search for the ideal fitness and nutritional program for our horses, but is it enough?
Selenium deficiency has been a reoccurring problem with horses, but is becoming more prominent that any of us ever really realized. The assumption that an adequate feeding program will give our horse the internal balance that they require to carry out their day to day work programs is proving to be somewhat harder than we, as horse owners, imagined.
Selenium, in conjunction with Vitamin E, is necessary for the immune system to function normally. Selenium is found naturally in most soil. However, not all foliage carries adequate amounts of selenium and our soil seems to be proving to be somewhat deficient. Without proper amounts of selenium intake, significant problems are becoming present.
Insufficient selenium intake can cause multiple problems such as:
* Muscle cramping/swelling/fatigue
* Affects the muscles of the heart used for respiration
* Causes an irregular pulse
* Brown or discoloured urine
* Lack of muscle tone in the horse’s back and hind limbs
These are just a few of the symptoms commonly noted with selenium deficiency.
The normal daily selenium intake is recorded as 1-3mg per day. In the last year, I have noticed an increase in selenium deficient horses throughout my work.
One particular incident that comes to mind is a barn that has had an increase of new horses over the past year from other barns and areas of British Columbia. The barn now consists of nine horses, all of which are now out on pasture, given good quality hay and are fed both a grain and supplement with selenium added. Only two of these horses have been living there throughout their life with this feeding program. Four of these horses had been given quality hay with beet pulp and supplements with very limited pasture time and mostly remained in stalls or paddocks prior to coming to live at this barn. The remaining three horses’ prior living situation was out on pasture without any grain or supplements added to their daily feeding schedule. Of these nine horses, only the two horses with the grain and supplements both containing selenium and consistent pasture access were tested within normal limits. The horses without any supplements or grain were experiencing a multitude of symptoms consistent with selenium deficiency; problems muscling up, decrease in energy level, muscle tremors and general irritability.
After owning these new horses over a period of time and they were settled into their new environment, the problems persisted. Other avenues were looked into and numerous professionals looked at the horses, as they all showed different signs depending on each individual horse. No two horses showed the same clinical signs. Their teeth were floated, ill-fitting tack was ruled out by a professional saddler and I was called to give them an overview. Although the horses did show improvement after each visit by every professional, the original concern always seemed to reappear. The Vet then did blood work with each group of horses to check their selenium levels as that seemed to be the only other possible problem. The two groups without the added grain and supplements tested very low. Since May, all of the horses have been given added selenium to their diets and a significant improvement has been noted.
Is your horse showing any combination of these symptoms;
* Acting “off” continually throughout your school
* Hitched movement
* Random unprovoked behaviour
* Muscle tremors
* Excessive sweats
* Problems getting muscle tone
Selenium deficiency may be your problem. Double check your horse’s feed schedule to make sure that your horse is getting adequate amounts of selenium and speak to your Vet.
Just over a month ago Soldier was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, bone cancer. Upon taking bone samples from both his left shoulder and carpus it was confirmed diagnoses. Full body x-rays determined that it was caught before it spread throughout his organs.
