I looked at the maps I saw that my area , Indiana, is low in Selinium. While looking for Bo-Se in a catalog I found an oral Gel supplement for goats by Kaeko. It is Selenium & Vitamin E gel in a easy adjust dose syringe. Is it as absorbable orally as it is Sub Q? This does not require a script from the vet, had good reviews in the catalog. Do any of you use this rather than injectable Bo-Se?
Thanks for all the discussion about the dehorners--now I feel confident abt ordering the Rhinehart X30 with a regular tip.
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The down side it that it does not contain vit E.
Liver biopsies are usually done on dead goats.
Caprine Supply sells a selenium supplement:
http://www.caprinesupply.com/selenium-with-vitamin-e.html
Are liver tests for Selenium levels done on living animals? If not, is there a way to know the levels on live animals?
Since I now know that my area is known to be low in Selenium I will give my does the Gel this time and then I would like to add the free choice Selenium to their regular diet. where do you purchase free choice Selenium?
I've used the gel, injectable, and a free-choice selenium supplement at various times. Every time I've had a liver tested, whether I was using the gel or injectable, it has come back borderline low for selenium, but I haven't had one tested since I switched to the free-choice supplement last fall. I am hoping we can get closer to a more middle-of-normal level with that.
Most animal scientists and vet professors with whom I've spoken, essentially say that animals should get their nutrients orally, which is why the free-choice minerals are a good idea. Unfortunately, to avoid toxicity in areas with plenty of selenium, those multiminerals have levels that are really not high enough for animals that live in areas that are truly deficient.
The gel is fine in most situations where you just want to top-off your goat and make sure she has enough at stressful times like kidding. If you know you have an animal that is really deficient, the injectable is preferred because it works quickly. Research has shown that the majority of selenium injected will be excreted in the urine in the first 24 hours, so although you are giving the goat a lot more in an injection than in an oral supplement, not that much stays with the animal. The injectable is available only with a prescription, however, because you can overdose it and kill a goat. (The kidneys can only excrete so much before they fail.) Because the excess is excreted in urine, it is not good as a long-term solution to chronic selenium deficiency.
Yes, there are so many choices when going through the catalogs--it is nice to know the experience of others.
I use the gel for my goats. :) Orally.
Can't really help with this one, sorry! I did order the gel for one of mine last year, before she kidded. Then I was told by a trustworthy breeder here that we don't have the problem. I also consulted the map and we seem to be ok here. I do believe that most likely it will depend on the degree of the situation. Someone else will verify for you, but you may need to post where you fit on the map as to degree.
But, I did want to tell you that I am glad you have been able to solve the dis-budding question through the discussions. There is something very reassuring about being able to gather opinions before making these decisions isn't there?