Dr.Valentine,
I wanted to ask you a question on Selenium? I have never used it with my Arab.I was told to give Bear one or two tablespoons a day.The woman who runs the boarding facility where Bear lives said I was CRAZY to give him that!I spoke with my vet and he basically agreed.He said it is not proven to help.
As I read the Draft Horse Manual and the web board I feel confused.Everyone who owns or works with Drafts agrees on giving Selenium.IS it harmful not to give it to Bear? Do you srongly recommend that he needs it?
I appreciate the help!

One or two tablespoons sounds like A LOT if it's a selenium-only supplement. I'd follow the feeding instructions on the supplement container, unless your vet recommends against selenium because you are in a selenium-rich area (it's toxic at high doses). I have found vitamin E to be very helpful as well as selenium (I live in an area with lower selenium levels in the soil).

The need for selenium will depend on the selenium in the soil in your area and in the soil where your hay is grown. There is a selenium map in the Contents of this site that may help you to know if your area might be deficient. Horses require about 2 mg selenium per 1000 lbs of horse per day. In most low selenium areas horses are fine with a supplement providing 1 mg selenium per 1000 lbs of horse per day, with the assumption that there is some selenium in other feeds. In the Pacific Northwest, though, some horses have needed the 2 mg selenium per 1000 lbs of horse per day to maintain normal selenium levels. If your product lists the selenium content as ppm, 1 ppm is 0.45 mg per lb of product. Most supplements are fed by the ounce, so if you multiple the ppm listed by 0.45 then divide by 16 you'll have the mg of selenium per ounce of product. Selenium is toxic at high doses, but if your area is deficient you'd really have to feed a lot to reach a toxic level. When in doubt ask your veterinarian to draw a whole blood sample to send to test for selenium level. I hope this helps!

Dr.Valentine,
Thank you all for the input. I didn't see this response earlier so I asked this on Bears feeding. I am sorry for the repeat question. I will investigate the amount.
Thank You,
Kasandra

No problem Kasandra! Things were a bit hectic as I was getting ready to go out of town for a bit.