[The importance of selenium for neonatal foals and calves - a literature review]

This article provides an overview of the clinically relevant functions and metabolic processes of selenium. Especially equine and bovine neonates are affected by selenium deficiency leading to serious consequences. Severe selenium deficiency may especially result in skeletal and/or heart muscles damage, which can result in serious illness and death of the animal. The typical clinical picture is known under various names and is often referred to as rhabdomyolysis, or more precisely as nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) and in the past usually as white muscle disease. Early recognition of nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) is crucial for prognosis. The typical clinical signs and treatment options are described in this summary. A single selenium injection can raise deficient selenium concentrations in calves and foals preventing serious illness. As Germany is widely regarded as a selenium deficiency area, a single selenium injection can be given to the affected calf or foal in case a selenium deficiency is suspected based on the history and clinical signs, in order to avert serious health consequences due to NMD. The suspicion should be verified by serum selenium analysis so that further appropriate measures are implemented. In calves, a manufacturer-compliant dosage of 5.5 mg sodium selenite and 750 mg vitamin E (all-rac-alpha-tocopherolacetat) did not result in an oversupply of selenium. Particular importance should be granted to the adequate supply of selenium to the dam during pregnancy and is more important than selenium intake via the colostrum.