31: How and when to supplement your horse with selenium

Healing Horses with Elisha

Over the past few weeks, I have covered equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and thyroid function. One of the minerals essential for many of those physical processes is selenium.

So, today, I take a closer look at selenium, providing an in-depth analysis of this essential nutrient.

By understanding the role of selenium, recognizing signs of deficiency, and knowing when to supplement it, we can make more informed decisions for the health of our horses. Join us to learn all you need to know about selenium and the diet and lifestyle risk factors that could result in a selenium deficiency.

An Overview of Selenium

Selenium is an antioxidant crucial for holistic equine health. Antioxidants like selenium scavenge free radicals, aiding detoxification and supporting the immune system. They are particularly beneficial for horses facing toxicity or immune challenges.

Supplementation Duration and Importance

While I do not recommend ongoing daily supplementation for all nutrients, selenium is an exception due to common deficiencies, especially for horses prone to equine metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. It is best to start with intensive supplementation before transitioning to a maintenance regimen, typically three to four times weekly, to ensure optimal long-term selenium levels.

The Roles and Benefits of Selenium

Selenium serves a range of functions beyond supporting the immune system, supporting healthy skin, hair, hooves, muscle function, and thyroid health. It is also crucial for metabolic balance and is particularly essential for working horses due to their higher demand.

Deficiency Signs and Risks

Many horses show deficiency symptoms due to inadequate selenium levels in their diet and environment. Signs of selenium deficiency include weakened hooves, skin issues, hair loss, fatigue, liver toxicity, poor immunity, muscle issues, and thyroid dysfunction.

Balancing Deficiency and Toxicity Concerns

While selenium toxicity has historically been a concern, deficiencies are far more common. Organic selenium forms like selenomethionine are safe and highly bioavailable, mitigating toxicity risks associated with inorganic forms like sodium selenite.

Supplementation Guidelines

For horses deficient in selenium, a loading dose of 2000 micrograms per day for a few weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of 1000 micrograms, works well. Dosages must be tailored to the requirements of each horse and monitored for optimal results.

Long-term Considerations

Given how common selenium deficiencies are and the critical importance of selenium for equine health, maintaining a regular supplementation routine that gets adjusted to suit the individual needs of each horse is prudent for their overall well-being.

Conclusion

Understanding the significance of selenium, recognizing signs of deficiency, choosing the appropriate form for supplementation, and implementing a tailored regimen are essential steps in optimizing equine health and performance. Regular monitoring and adjustments will ensure sustained benefits and support for equine health and vitality.

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