As we have fully tested my filly Vestal Heights after bleeding problems
Our specialised vet discovered something interesting: a lack of selenium
because of the pour fed, that is manufactered and growing too fast on soil thats lacks a natural way of producing feed.
When a horse as ours is nerveous ,stressed it,s breaks their own selenium
therefore damaging their immune system
A part source to breeding problems
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louis finochio
- Darley line
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What people need to be aware of though is that selenium is nasty if you overdose on it.
For example, lots of horse supplements (AND complete feeds) include selenium. The vet wanted one of our stallions on Selenium (+E) so they bought it for him. Thankfully, I read the buckets before I started feeding him the vitamin/mineral supplement and the Selenium supplement - giving him both could have caused a toxic dosage.
"Signs of Toxicity: Chronic (over a long period of time) selenium toxicity—alkali disease—is characterized by hair loss (alopecia), especially about the mane and tail, as well as cracking of the hooves around the coronary band and signs of laminitis. Acute (major dose) selenium toxicity is characterized by blindness, head pressing, perspiration, abdominal pain, colic, diarrhea, increased heart and respiration rates, and lethargy. "
Here is a map of selenium availablity:
http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic ... um_map.htm
It's good to keep that in mind. I know a LOT of people in central Iowa who supplement selenium - this boggles my mind because aside from being a waste of money, it could also potentially be dangerous.
(Has anyone else read about how Custer's Last Stand may have turned out that way because of selenium toxicity?)
I think the point, and what I've learned from my life in the horse industry so far, is that there is no magic bullet. It's just good to make sure you are meeting requirements without over-supplementing.
~Adrienne
For example, lots of horse supplements (AND complete feeds) include selenium. The vet wanted one of our stallions on Selenium (+E) so they bought it for him. Thankfully, I read the buckets before I started feeding him the vitamin/mineral supplement and the Selenium supplement - giving him both could have caused a toxic dosage.
"Signs of Toxicity: Chronic (over a long period of time) selenium toxicity—alkali disease—is characterized by hair loss (alopecia), especially about the mane and tail, as well as cracking of the hooves around the coronary band and signs of laminitis. Acute (major dose) selenium toxicity is characterized by blindness, head pressing, perspiration, abdominal pain, colic, diarrhea, increased heart and respiration rates, and lethargy. "
Here is a map of selenium availablity:
http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic ... um_map.htm
It's good to keep that in mind. I know a LOT of people in central Iowa who supplement selenium - this boggles my mind because aside from being a waste of money, it could also potentially be dangerous.
(Has anyone else read about how Custer's Last Stand may have turned out that way because of selenium toxicity?)
I think the point, and what I've learned from my life in the horse industry so far, is that there is no magic bullet. It's just good to make sure you are meeting requirements without over-supplementing.
~Adrienne