Suspected selenium poisoning in a horse

Authors: Lowe MD, Dewes HF
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 4, pp 53-54, Apr 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Horse, Livestock
Subject Terms: Poisoning - chemical, Selenium, Trace elements, Toxicology
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: A case of selenium poisoning was suspected following the administration of 325µmol selenium a day as sodium selenate (25mg Se) for five consecutive days. The main signs were confined to changes in the integument which were loss of hair from the mane and tail, disintegration of the skin of the anus, lips, prepuce and scrotum, and separation of the hooves from the coronary corium. Periodic analyses of blood, hair and hoof parings from the sole correlated strongly with blood and identified horn and hair as important additional routes of excretion.

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