Copraphagia/selenium deficiency?

[Landcruiser]

My young mare has just been found to have selenium deficiency and started on Trinity Consultants Alpha-Selenium supplement yesterday. She's also still on a tailing off dose omaprazole daily (grade 2 ulcers). I have noticed her over the last few weeks taking an "interest" in fresh poo piles, pushing them around with her nose, which I did mention to the vet as part of the all round picture of what's been going on with her. But this morning when I went to give her her breakfast, she was positively scoffing a fresh pile of her own poo, and really didn't want to come away from it. My only thought is that there is unabsorbed selenium from the new supplement in the poo, which is what's making it so attractive to her. Thoughts?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

They normally do it of they are lacking a vitamin and mineral of some sort, apart from the selenium is she on a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement?

If not I would put her on one I use progressive earth pro balance basic.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I can't help with the poo eating, but anecdotely horses do this if their diet is or has been deficient in some way.

How much Se does your vet recommend that you supplement her with? As you know, too much Se is toxic.

I use Pro Earth Pro Balance+, which has 1 mg Selenium when fed at the average daily rate for a 500kg horse. Is that enough?

 

[SEL]

I thought they did this when they were trying to populate their gut with certain bacteria - but that's usually other horse's poo. Is she on any gut support as she comes off the drugs?

 

[Landcruiser]

She's on Equimins Tip Top, which turns out to have very little selenium. The Alpha gives an additional 1.85mg/day. She's also on brewers yeast and yea sac, and has been for many months. I'm planning to speak to Simon at Trinity as soon as I can regarding a long term plan (he's away for the next week). What I need to avoid is overdosing her, and I'm aware she'll be getting a bit extra in her forage/herbal chaff.
I recently got the result of her Equibiome test, which I haven't quite got my head around yet - but nothing very bad/low has come up on that, she seems to have decent levels of what she needs (albeit not necessarily in the right proportions..I think).

 

[Hormonal Filly]

@Landcruiser how long did it take for you to notice a difference with your mare once on selenium?