Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Having been through this, here’s the deal. 

 

A “normal” blood workup does NOT include testing for Selenium level.  That requires special equipment.  The standard panel can even be done at the local hospital…same as people.  However, when I had Magic tested, it was $85 for the Selenium analysis and they had to send it to Oklahoma or Michigan to get it done, so I suspect $100 is not out of range.  I suspect it’s based on the cost from whatever lab they send it to.  You don’t need the “normal” panel unless you need it for something else. Selenium is a separate test. Also, different labs use different “values”, like parts-per-million or nanograms per milliliter.  However, they will give you a “normal” reading for that type of value.  Oklahoma (where my Vet sent it first) gave me inconsistent results.  They use PPM, where normal is .14-.25ppm.  Magic was .07 on his first test. After I started supplementing him, 90 days later he came back as .02, which didn’t give me warm fuzzies on their testing quality.  After discussing it with my vet, he agreed to use another lab.

 

M M Veterinary Lab in Milan, MI gave me consistent results.  www.mmvetlab.com  “Normal” from them is 160-275 ng/ml.  For Endurance horses, you want to be on the upper end of that. However, I’m sure there are equally good labs in California.

 

Based on my experience, it will take more than one test to find out what the normal amount is to give.  Selenium is toxic in higher levels, so I wanted to “sneak up on it”.  I gave Magic a conservative amount for 2 months, and then had him retested.  At the third test, He was 277 ng/ml, so I backed of a tiny amount and that’s what I feed.

 

It is best to feed Selenium with Vitamin E.  Here is the product I use, which is reasonably priced and concentrated enough to make it easy to feed.  Smells funny, but my guys don’t seem to mind….very palatable.

 

http://www.uckele.com/shopping/agora.cgi?cart_id=3296555.15062*pO1OI5&p_id=ese10x&xm=on&ppinc=search2

 

 

Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic

 

 

Richard T. "Jim" Holland

Three Creeks Farm

175 Hells Hollow Drive

Blue Ridge, Ga 30513

(706) 258-2830

www.threecreeksarabians.com

Callsign KI4BEN

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From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lori Bertolucci
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 10:08 AM
To: Susan & Jerry Milam; ridecamp
Subject: RE: [RC] selenium toxicity-cost of testing....

 

You said the test wasn't expensive, but my neighbors just had the vet do a blood draw/test on a young horse they just received, that was rather malnourished, and when they asked for a selinium test to be done they were told it would run an additional $100 plus dollars. That was over the cost of the original test ($85.00).

Does this seem like a normal cost?

 

Just asking...I didn't remember spending that much in the past for selinium tests...

(we are in south/central Calif, near Bakersfield...)

 

Thanks,

Lori B.

Susan & Jerry Milam <milamj@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Selenium toxicity exhibits changes in the hair and hoof structure, but don't
know if that's a late change or an early sign- probably later than early.
You need to geta blood sample to be sure and it's not that expensive. Just
do it.

susan

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alice Yovich
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 10:24 PM
To: ridecamp
Subject: [RC] selenium toxicity

I have been treating my mare with selenium at the advice of an alternative
medical practioner. We didn't do blood work and based on her EPM dx, it was
supposed to help improve her muscle function. She's had some other lameness
issues and I'm wondering if those could be due to selenium. I did pull it
from her diet and she seems better, but I don't know how quickly an
improvement would be made from NOT supplementing selenium. Anyone have any
words on this subject?

Alice, Peter and Maggie
Region 4, Texas
http://stores.ebay.com/Equithreads-and-Things
www.equithreads.com



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