How Much Selenium Should I Give My Horse?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a daily recommended intake of selenium for an average horse (weighing 1,100 pounds) per day as 3 mg or 0.3 ppm in the diet (ppm stands for parts per million and is equivalent to milligrams per kilogram).

How much selenium should a horse have daily?

3 mg per day
The FDA has set a daily recommended level of selenium for an “average” horse at a total of 3 mg per day. Many different types of feeds and supplements contain selenium. Take the time to read the labels and calculate how much, if any, selenium is contributing to your horse’s diet.

How much selenium do you give a horse?

The requirement for selenium and the toxic level are not widely separated. The minimal requirement according to the National Research Council is 0.1 mg/kg of diet (1 mg per day for the average horse) depending on the age and use of the animal, while toxic levels start at 2 mg/kg of diet for the horse.

Can you give a horse too much selenium?

Unlike many minerals and vitamin E, which are safe even in excess, selenium has a very narrow safety range in the horse. Either a deficiency or an excess of selenium can cause problems in the horse. We must be careful about supplementation as we risk selenium toxicity if we add too much to our horse’s diet.

How do I know if my horse needs selenium?

SYMPTOMS OF SELENIUM DEFICIENCY

• Stiff gait.
• Sore, painful muscles.
• Poor performance.
• Muscle spasms and/or trembling.
• Tying up (nutritional myopathy/rhabdomyolysis)

How do I add selenium to my horse’s diet?

Selenium (Se) is an antioxidant mineral that is necessary in the horse’s diet. Horses derive selenium by consuming hay or grasses that grow in soils that contain this trace mineral.

Is 200 mg selenium too much?

Although some studies have used doses of 200 mcg, there is some evidence that this amount could increase your risk for diabetes. DO NOT exceed the upper tolerable limit of 400 mcg. Remember that you may also get some selenium in the foods you eat. Over time, high doses of selenium can be toxic.

Is 100 mcg selenium too much?

Selenium is suggested in doses of no more than 200 mcg per day. The treatment range for selenium is narrow. You shouldn’t take too much. The recommended dose is 100 mcg to 200 mcg per day.

How much selenium per day is too much?

The safe upper limit for selenium is 400 micrograms a day in adults. Anything above that is considered an overdose.

Is 150 mcg of selenium too much?

Getting too much selenium over time can cause the following: Garlic breath. Nausea.
Can selenium be harmful?

What is a toxic level of selenium in a horse?

2.5 mg/kg
Liver selenium concentrations above 2.5 mg/kg wet weight are considered to be toxic in horses.

Is there selenium in hay?

These hays typically have a selenium level of 0.06-0.2 ppm. Using a hay lower in selenium can dilute the diet and reduce the total amount of selenium consumed daily, if it is not possible to switch entirely from the local grass hay you have.

Does alfalfa hay contain selenium?

Field sampling of the alfalfa revealed a selenium gradient in the resulting hays (Table 2). Upper portions of the field produced the lowest concentrations of selenium (0.19-2.5 ppm), whereas the flat areas by the creeks yielded high se- lenium levels (19-58 ppm).

What are the symptoms of low selenium?

Two conditions are associated with severe selenium deficiency: 1) Keshan disease, a type of cardiomyopathy, or disease of heart muscle, and 2) Kashin-Beck disease, a form of osteoarthritis. Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting. Headaches.

How long does it take for selenium to work?

How long does it take for your body to digest/absorb selenium? Some sources indicate that your body can absorb up to 89% of the selenium you consume. Most of this absorption occurs within the first 24 hours after ingestion.

What can you not mix with selenium?

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs (blood thinners) — When combined with these drugs, selenium may increase the risk of bleeding:

• Clopidogrel (Plavix)
• Warfarin (Coumadin)
• Heparin.
• Aspirin.

How much selenium is in alfalfa pellets?

mg
Alfalfa Pellet – 17% CP 46% NDF

What foods should be avoided with selenium?

Avoid long-term use of selenium supplements if you have ever had skin cancer. Surgery: Selenium might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking selenium at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

What is one symptom of selenium toxicity?

The symptoms of chronic selenium toxicity or selenosis first appear as a garlicky odor in the breath and a metallic taste in the mouth. This is followed by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea, tiredness, irritability, and joint pain, all of which occur in approximately 70-75% of patients.

What is the best form of selenium to take?

selenomethionine
What is the best type of selenium supplement? Selenium in the form of selenomethionine may be the best option. This form has been shown to have superior absorption rates compared with other forms of selenium used in supplements, including sodium selenite ( 3 , 8 , 9 ).

What is the side effects of selenium?

Side Effects

• Diarrhea.
• fingernail weakening.
• garlic odor of breath and sweat.
• hair loss.
• itching of skin.
• nausea and vomiting.
• unusual tiredness and weakness.