What does selenium deficiency look like in horses?

What is the best source of vitamin E for horses?

There are 3 types of vitamin E in horses, with differing effects.

Ascorbic acid is made naturally by the horse, but only in small amounts and only for about 2 weeks. Vitamin E supplements are available as dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-tocopherol or dl-tocotrienol. All three forms act differently, and each has different benefits and side effects.

The main form of vitamin E known as tocopherol will act as antioxidant and reduce inflammatory reactions in tissues. How much vitamin E should I feed my horse? For acute conditions, a 200mg dose of ascorbic acid may be given for 1-2 days. For chronic conditions, an anti-inflammatory dose of alpha tocopherol is around 100mg daily. (This dose contains 40mg dl-alpha tocopherol/kg per day, giving 10,000 international units of vitamin E per kg body weight).

For the most effective absorption, it is better to use either the whole food source (eg: apples and carrots) or the supplement as an oil soluble form. If an oily carrier is used, it may actually be harmful to the horse.

The horse should not receive supplements for longer than 6 months, as they have the potential to interfere with blood work results and alter the vitamin D level. If your vet tells you that your horse needs supplements for longer than 6 months, please contact us for further advice.

What is the best vitamin E supplement for horses? Alpha tocopherol is the strongest form of Vitamin E to date, because it protects against inflammation and oxidation. Unlike other vitamins that can convert into fat soluble vitamins, alpha tocopherol does not convert. This means it cannot be stored or accumulated in the body, and that an intake remains essentially unaffected by fat content in the food consumed.

Ascorbic acid comes from natural sources like carrots, broccoli, asparagus, spinach, peas, almonds and oats. It is very inexpensive and can be administered via feed (such as for diarrhoea), water or pelleted feed.

D-tocopherol is produced by chemical transformation from ascorbic acid. It offers protection from oxidation.

Does vitamin E help EPM in horses?

I have a 3 year old gelding who has been diagnosed with EPM and he has never been given vitamin e.

At the hospital were told that the reason he is not getting better is because he is not eating enough. I am confused because he does not need as much as other horses which they say is normal for his breed but that does not seem to apply to him. So can I feed him more and should I be giving him vitamin e or is it not recommended for horses with EPM? Thank you!

He has recently become lame. The vet wants him to stay overnight but I would prefer if we could take him home and I was wondering if vitamin E was good for him in an attempt to get him better? And what would you recommend for him to have in the morning before I bring him back? He is on about 2.2% sodium pentobarbital for sleep right now. I'm not sure how much sodium is in the stuff but it's just enough to make him drift off, but not enough that he stops breathing. I'm having him re-tested. He has already had a full work up done as I had been calling her regularly while I still had him at the racetrack. We are home now and just waiting to hear his results and hoping he will be okay with just me.

The horse is doing fairly well right now, so as long as you monitor him carefully over the next few days I don't think that a vitamin E supplement would make much of a difference right now. If you have any questions, either for more info on vitamin E and equine metabolic syndrome or just basic questions about EPM contact the Equine Metabolic Syndrome and EPM Awareness Association. They are a great resource for this information.

Thanks! Just like the vets to say that he does not eat enough, I do try and give him as much as he needs. He only does about 20-30 minutes of exercise. He eats all day but most of it is hay. Would vitamin E do anything for him? I know it has with other horses so maybe he will too! This is a long shot hope that he will be alright.

What is the cause of EPM? Have you taken him to a doctor as some are concerned with a genetic defect instead?

What does selenium deficiency look like in horses?

What would be the best test for selenium levels in blood?

A horse that I have will not stand up. Her hindquarters are very stiff and she will not walk at all and is very painful when she tries to move. She stands still a few hours at a time. She does not even want to eat or drink. It has been 5 days since she ate but she is very sick looking.

What should I do, please help! Answer: You can always look at an article for more help about this. Also on some site there is a questionnaire that you fill in that will tell you if you have a problem. I don't know how much experience you have with horses but if you want me to fill in a questionnaire for you I can do so. Here is the link to one of the best horse websites on the net.

Selenium is a trace element that is used in horses that need to shed their winter coat in the fall. Selenium deficiency leads to an inadequate production of epidermal melanin (a pigment that protects against ultraviolet radiation). Selenium deficiency will usually affect white horses first, and then will progress to horses with yellow, black or tan coats. Selenium deficiency is the cause of various disease conditions in horses including White Muscle Disease, Bacterial Septic Arthritis, and Vitamin E Deficiency Syndrome. Selenium also plays a role in maintaining bone structure.

A horse can be severely deficient in selenium and may show signs of this deficiency within the first year of life. Inadequate intake of selenium during pregnancy may lead to reproductive disorders in the foal. Horses that are consuming feed with a selenium concentration of less than 0.05 ppm in the spring and less than 0.1 ppm in the fall are considered to have a moderate degree of selenium deficiency. Horses that are fed feed with a selenium concentration greater than 1.0 ppm in the spring and greater than 1.5 ppm in the fall have a severe degree of selenium deficiency.